By Gabriel Osoba

Raining – Rainy

Raining and rainy are derived from rain. You can say either ‘It’s raining’ or ‘It’s rainy’. Raining is ‘water is coming down from the clouds’. Rainy is an adjective. The weather is rainy when it rains. A rainy period of time is when it rains a lot. The choice of either raining or rainy depends on context. The question is ‘Which is better according to context?’ Note that raining is used in the idiom ‘It’s raining cats and dogs’ (meaning it is raining very hard) and rainy in ‘Save (something) for a rainy day’ (meaning ‘to save something, especially money for a time when you will need it’).

Examples:

Do not go out when it is raining very hard.

Always carry an umbrella in rainy weather.

Outside, it was still raining.

The rainy season will soon be over.

Partially – Partly

Partially and Partly are adverbs and also share a similar meaning: ‘not completely’. Partially means ‘partly’. Partly means ‘to some extent/degree’. Thus, you can say ‘The project is partly/partially completed.’ Note, however, that the words are not used interchangeably in all contexts. Partly is used to state the reason for something; hence, it is often followed by ‘because’ or ‘due to’.

Examples:

The company’s problems are partly due to bad management.

Some people are unwilling to contest any election into a political office partly because of the cost involved.

Samson’s wife was partly responsible for his misfortune.

Partially is used when you are referring to physical condition.

Examples:

The surgical operation was only partially successful.

Reading aids should be provided for the partially blind.