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Namely vs Specifically - What's the difference?

namely | specifically |

As adverbs the difference between namely and specifically

is that namely is especially, above all while specifically is in a specific manner, applying to or naming a particular thing or things, expressly, explicitly.

namely

English

Adverb

(-)
  • Especially, above all.
  • *:
  • *:THus was sir Tramtryst longe there wel cherysshed / with the kynge and the quene / and namely with la beale Isoud / So vpon a daye / the quene and la beale Isoud made a bayne for syre Tramtryst / And whan he was in his bayne / the quene and Isoud her doughter romed vp & doune in the chamber
  • Specifically; that is to say.
  • :
  • :
  • *{{quote-book, year=1905, author=
    • , title= , chapter=1 citation , passage=“The story of this adoption is, of course, the pivot round which all the circumstances of the mysterious tragedy revolved. Mrs. Yule had an only son, namely , William, to whom she was passionately attached ; but, like many a fond mother, she had the desire of mapping out that son's future entirely according to her own ideas.

    Usage notes

    A synonymous expression is the use of colon—":", as in "There are three ways to do it: the right way, the wrong way." Considered a dependent clause, a comma' should follow the expression and either a '''semicolon''' or ' comma should precede it, depending on the strength of the break in continuity. "Namely" can thus almost be considered a conjunction.

    Anagrams

    * *

    specifically

    English

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • in a specific manner, applying to or naming a particular thing or things, expressly, explicitly
  • * 1994 , Congress of the United States, :
    • A provision of law may not be construed as requiring a new grant to be awarded to a specified non-Federal Government entity unless that provision of law (1) specifically''' refers to this subsection; '''specifically''' identifies the particular non-Federal Government entity involved; and (3) '''specifically states that the award to that entity is required by such provision of law in contravention of the policy set forth in subsection (a).
  • * 2009 (last modified), University of North Dakota, Institutional Review Board Standard Operating Procedures: Informed Consent Documentation :
    • Unless specifically waived by the IRB, all subjects, or their legally authorized representatives, must document that they are consenting to participate in any research project that is approved by the University of North Dakota Institutional Review Board.
  • * 2010 (last amended), Congress of the United States, :
    • Unless a rule or statute specifically states otherwise, a pleading need not be verified or accompanied by an affidavit.
  • * 2011 , Paul Bergman, Sara Berman, The Criminal Law Handbook: Know Your Rights, Survive the System :
    • Many laws are directed specifically at child abuse.
  • for a specific purpose or reason