特别是 / 尤其(是)【tèbié shì / yóuqí (shì)】

特别是 and 尤其是 come after a statement about a group and single out the member it applies to most: "especially", "particularly".

特别是 is everyday speech. 尤其是 is a little more formal but common in speech too.

The group comes first

As in English, the general statement goes first, then the special case.

• × 特别是苹果，我喜欢水果 → 我喜欢水果，特别是苹果

Before a noun or before a verb

Before a noun, keep the 是. Before a verb or adjective, 尤其 and 特别 work alone, as degree adverbs meaning "especially, particularly".

• × 我喜欢水果，尤其苹果 → 我喜欢水果，尤其是苹果

The special case can be a whole phrase, such as a time or a situation.