Specially or Especially?

02/05/16 “Is Specially the Same as Especially?”

Especially and specially can often both be used with the same meaning.
It was not (e)specially cold.

Especially is used to mean “above all.”
I play a lot of tennis, especially on Sundays.
It rains a lot, especially in the north.
The children are very noisy, especially when we have visitors.
I like all kinds of fruit, especially strawberries.

Especially follows a subject.
All my family like music. My father, especially, goes to as many concerts as he can. (NOT … Especially my father goes…)

Specially is used to mean “for a particular purpose”.
These shoes were specially made for me.

The adjective especial is rarely used. We normally use special.
He took special trouble over his work.