Which Is Correct?

[tenrec]

I want to say "Designed especially for you" or Designed specially for you".
Which would be correct and why? Many thanks for your help with this.

[sandyRoe]

I think they're both OK

[tenrec]

Thanks Sandy, I wonder what the difference is. I think especially sounds a bit better, but not sure why.

[tonyav]

I think especially tenrec, don't know why though.

[FredPuli43]

Usual problem with English; some grammarian somewhere will have invented a rule, but nobody knows, or cares, what it is, and just goes by what sounds right.

I'd put "Designed especially for you" but " Designed for you, specially "

Collins notes that, in this usage, both are correct, so, in the example you give, either will do.

[netibiza]

I would go with especially , but as that is more spanish maybe I'm getting confused.

[Stephen_G]

I would go with the first one, tenrec. The second one would emphasize the design and not the personal nature of the message. If that makes sense.

[weecalf]

Whats the difference between especially and specially ?

[dr b]

This article is good and suggests especially is better:

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/especially-vs-specially/

[boxtops]

I'd use especially

[jno]

I'm not sure "especial" is a word in British English. "Especially" is, and I think I'd use it here, espe... er, particularly if you're going to be talking rather than writing. Reason: if you're speaking, "designed specially" would give you a pile-up of consonants: ndsp. The E in especially would break it up.

[boxtops]

.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGuNsiSZ9RI

[lankeela]

If you are putting it in an email it would have to be e-specially.

[mojay]

I make cards and on the back I use the following phrase -
Created especially for you, by me .......

[whiskeryron]

How about designed specifically for you ?

WR.

[BlueToffee]

Think I'd just put......designed for you!

[THECORBYLOON]

This is what Chambers Dictionary says,

'There is often confusion between specially and especially: specially means 'for a special purpose', as in

"I made this cake specially for your birthday" whereas especially means 'particularly, above all', as in "I like making cakes, especially for birthdays." You will sometimes find especially used wrongly to mean specially:

"He had driven up especially to collect her."'

[netibiza]

TCL, now that has confused me!

[THECORBYLOON]

In the cakes example, it is a "special" cake because it it made for a particular, (one-off) reason, "especially" means the person likes making cakes in general but for all the reasons to make cakes, the one liked the most, is for birthdays so they "especially like" making birthday cakes.

In the driving example, it should be "specially" rather than "especially" as it was for a specific reason.

[netibiza]

Ah, thank you, I get it now!

[KenkoQueen]

Especially, specially doesn't seem right, cant tell you why though.