Particularly is an adverb meaning to a higher degree or in a more specific way, often used to single out a precise aspect or instance. It signals emphasis on a particular element within a broader statement and is commonly placed before adjectives or clauses to narrow focus. It combines nuance with precise qualification in both formal and informal contexts.
"I was particularly impressed by the detail in the report."
"She spoke slowly, carefully, and particularly about the safety concerns."
"The weather was particularly harsh last winter, with record snowfall."
"He enjoys all sports, but he’s particularly fond of tennis."
Particularly comes from the late Latin particulariter. It derives from particulus, a diminutive form of partic-, meaning 'part' or 'portion,' related to parts or particularity. The English adoption merged with -ly to form the adverbial suffix -ly, yielding particularly in the sense of relating to a specific part of something. The word’s first use in English dates to the 16th or 17th century, initially in legal or technical prose emphasizing specific provisions. Over time, particularly broadened to general usage, signaling emphasis or specificity in informal and formal contexts. The evolution reflects a shift from a narrow, part-focused modifier to a versatile intensifier that can preface adjectives, verbs, or entire clauses, highlighting the degree or specificity of a statement.
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Words that rhyme with "Particularly"
-me) sounds
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Pronunciation: /pɑrˈtɪkjəlɚli/ (US) or /pɑːˈtɪkjələli/ (UK). The primary stress is on the second syllable: par-TIC-u-lar-ly. Start with /p/ followed by a short /ɑ/ (US) or long /ɑː/ (UK); the /r/ is rhotic in US. The /tɪk/ sequence includes a short /ɪ/ and a clear /k/ before the /jə/ glide. The ending /-lərli/ or /-əlɪ/ involves a schwa-like 'er' and a light /l/ plus a schwa or reduced vowel before the final /i/. Practice slowly: pɑr-ˈtɪk-jə-lə-lee, then speed up while keeping the stress on TIC. Audio reference: consult Cambridge/Oxford dictionaries or Pronounce for speaker samples.
Common errors include: 1) Misplacing the stress, saying par-TIC-kyoo-lar-ly with incorrect secondary emphasis; correct is par-TIC-u-lar-ly. 2) Merging /tɪk/ into a slurred /tɪkj/ without a clear /k/ or turning /kj/ into /tʃ/. 3) Pronouncing the final -ly as /li/ instead of a quick /lɪ/ or /li/ with slight reduction. Corrections: keep the /t/ release crisp, ensure the /k/ is audible before the /j/ glide, and soften the final syllable to reduce vowel length while preserving clarity of /l/ and /i/.
US: rhotic /r/ is pronounced; /ɑrˈtɪkjəlɚli/ with clear /r/ and a schwa-like /ɚ/ in the second-stress area. UK: non-rhotic /r/, so /pɑːˈtɪk.jə.lə.li/ with a smoother /ɪ/ and reduced postvocalic r; final /li/ often quicker. AU: similar to UK but with a more rounded /ɜː/ quality in some speakers; /ˌpɑːˈtɪk.jə.lə.li/ with less pronounced r and subtle vowel shifts. The vowel quality in syllables can shift in Australian speech, making the second syllable slightly shorter and the /j/ more palatalized. IPA references help track these shifts across dialects.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic, four-syllable structure with a stressed second syllable and a soft, rapid transition into the /j/ glide before the final -ly. The sequence /ˈtɪk/ must be crisp, followed by /jə/ as a tangent before the light final /lɪ/ or /lə.li/. The challenge is maintaining even tempo and avoiding vowel reduction that erases the secondary syllable stress. Additionally, the word’s reduced, fast endings in connected speech can blur the /l/ and /ɪ/ clusters. Persistent practice with controlled tempo helps stabilize the rhythm.
Word-specific tip: keep the /t/ release clean and separate from the /j/ glide. This makes /tɪk/ distinct rather than blending into /tɪkj/ as in some rapid speech. Visualize the sequence as par-TICK-uh-luh-lee with a slight pause before the final -ly when emphasizing a point, which helps maintain the right rhythm and stresses. This separation helps prevent a mushy /kj/ and preserves the clarity of the /l/ and /i/ in the ending.
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