Especially is a word that often confuses English speakers due to its unique spelling. The phonetic transcription of this word is /əˈspɛʃəli/. The first syllable is unstressed and pronounced with a schwa sound, while the following syllables are stressed and pronounced with a "short e" sound. The suffix "ially" is added to the base word "especial" to create the adverb form of the word. This is just one example of the many irregular spellings in the English language that can trip up even native speakers.
Especially can be defined as an adverb that is used to indicate something or someone as being more significant or important than others. It emphasizes that a particular person, thing, or circumstance stands out or has a higher degree of relevance, attention, or significance within a certain context.
It is commonly used to single out a specific individual or item from a group, expressing that this particular one holds a special position or is particularly relevant. For instance, in the sentence "I love all animals, especially dogs," the word "especially" emphasizes that dogs are preferred or hold greater affection compared to other animals.
Moreover, "especially" may indicate that something is done with specific attention, care, or detail. For example, if someone says "I baked this cake especially for your birthday," it highlights the fact that the cake was made with particular consideration for the recipient's special occasion.
Furthermore, this adverb can be used to suggest something unexpected or unusual within a given context. For instance, if one says "I find the city beautiful, especially during winter," it implies that the winter season presents a unique or extraordinary charm that differs from other times of the year.
In summary, "especially" serves to emphasize that a person, thing, circumstance, or action is distinctive, preferred, given special care, or stands out in some way within a particular context.
Principally; particularly; in an uncommon degree above any other.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word especially originated from the Late Latin word specialis, which means special or particular. This Latin word is derived from the Latin word species, meaning appearance, kind, or form. Over time, specialis developed into the Middle English word specialte, later changing to specially. From there, it eventually evolved into its modern form especially.