particularly

Everyday

1. Especially; more than usual or more than others: I particularly like apples. tree →
2. In detail or carefully, as in «she looked at it particularly» (old-fashioned). tree →
3. «Not particularly» means not very, or not really: "Are you hungry?" "Not particularly." tree →

In the lessons

Writers use it to pick out one thing from a group or to make a feeling stronger: «It was particularly cold that night». In science reports: «The plant grew particularly well in sunlight». In polite and formal speech it softens an answer: «not particularly». It does not change any number in a maths problem, but may point to the item that matters. Phrases: «particularly good», «not particularly», «particularly when/if».

Examples

• I particularly enjoyed the trip to the zoo. tree →
• The bridge is particularly slippery when it rains. tree →
• "Did you like the film?" "Not particularly." tree →
• The second question was particularly hard. tree →
• Bees particularly like purple flowers. tree →
• Be particularly careful near the road. tree →
• He's not particularly fond of broccoli. tree →
• It was a particularly windy day at the beach. tree →
• "I find it particularly good myself." tree →

Note

Spelling trap: particul-AR-ly — there is an «ar» before «ly»; many pupils write «particulary» or «particually». Comes from «particular». Similar words: especially, notably, specially. «Not particularly» is a soft, polite «no».