In particular means “especially” or “specifically”. It picks one case out of a general group so that you can say something about it separately. It comes after a noun (children in particular), before a noun, or at the start of a new sentence followed by a comma.
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noun + in particular; in particular + noun; In particular, + sentence; nothing/nowhere in particular
- I enjoyed the whole trip, but I loved the local markets in particular.
- Online courses suit busy adults, in particular parents with small children.
- Air pollution harms everyone in the city. In particular, it increases the risk of asthma in children.
What changed
First versionMany European cities, in particularly Amsterdam, have excellent cycle lanes.
RevisionMany European cities, in particular Amsterdam, have excellent cycle lanes.
Two correct forms got mixed up here: particularly and in particular. Both mean “especially”, but after the preposition in you need particular, without -ly. You can write particularly Amsterdam or in particular Amsterdam, but not in particularly.
For example gives one case out of many, while in particular highlights the one you most want to talk about: I love Asian food, in particular Thai curries. In conversation you often hear nothing in particular, meaning “nothing special, nothing specific”: What are you doing tonight? Nothing in particular.
Your turn
All the museums we visited in Madrid were good, but the Prado ___ impressed me more than any other.
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in particular — The Prado is singled out from all the museums: it impressed the writer more than any other. In particular helps you single out one case from a general group. For example would present the Prado as one example among many, which contradicts the words more than any other.
Write about a city, a course or a TV series you liked. First give your general opinion, then single out one detail with in particular and explain why it stayed with you.
I really liked my language course in Edinburgh, and the speaking classes in particular, because the teacher made everyone talk from the first day.
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