Questions about example sentences with, and the definition and usage of "Special"

Synonyms of "Special" and their differences

Q: What is the difference between special and specific and particular and peculiar ?
A: *Special: means better, greater, otherwise different from what is usual.

Examples:
*I want to do something special for Tom’s birthday.
*She has a special ingredient in her sauce recipe.
*I made special point to avoid that store.
*i have been saving this wine for a special occasion.

Specific: means clearly defined or identified.

Examples:
*It is easier to identify specific breeds if animals.
*We have specific criteria and certain limitations on who we can hire.
* Each person has their own specific code to log on.
*You would not need a specific date or time to attend that event. It is open all day to everyone.

Particular: means a singled out item, individual or group or a detail (of an item, person, aspect of some task).

Examples:
*The crowd seemed to gather at on particular spot.
*He paid particular attention to the December budget so he could stay on track.
*Mary was a bit particular with who she chose to be a friend with.
*She was particular with which bakery she ordered the cake from.

Peculiar: means strange or odd, unusual.

Examples:
*My uncle is a peculiar man who wears the same clothes several days a week.
*The medicine made me feel peculiar as though the room was soinning.
*My peculiar sister has sixteen cats.
*We have already spoken about his peculiar beliefs.

Truthfully, because of their definitions, many of these can be used interchangeably.
Example:
Someone special might be peculiar. “He only eats in restaurants without table cloths.”
I like a car with that particular ( or specific ) detail ( like keyless entry, a backup camera or a sunroof).

I hope this helps.



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