Could you explain to me the difference in meaning between these words because I know there is any but I can’t remember….Thanks a lot!  :)

and what about ELECTRIC and ELECTRICAL?  ??? ???

Hallo Kasia!

The distinction between these adjectives is not easy, and many English speakers get it muddled.

Historic is more basic than historical. If you are describing something that is historcally significant it is historic.
        The signing of the treaty was a historic moment.
        (the treaty is viewed as a turning point in history)
        The king gave his historic speech.
        (the speech is viewed as a turning point in history)
The adjective historical implies that something is in the past, or relates to the study of history.
        The signing of the treaty was a historical moment.
        (It happened in the past: this sentence is the wrong use of the adjective)
        The king gave his historical speech.
        (he may have talked about his country’s history)

The division between electric and electrical is a lot more blurred: the words are almost interchangeable. Electic tends to be used when the use of electricity is (or was) considered remarkable and significant. Electrical just tells us that electricity is involved.
        She used to love riding the electric trams.
        (trams were a remarkable use of electricity in their time)
        He bought a new electric toothbrush.
        (a toothbrush running on electricity is considered remarkable)
        They sold electrical goods from the back of a van.
        (the items just happen to run from electricity, it is not remarkable)
        The electrician had completed all the electrical work.
        (the wiring of the house is expected to involve electricity, and so is not remarkable)

There is considerable divergence over electric/electrical. Some agorans may disagree with my examples, saying that they would make the opposite choice. Electrical is used more often. Electric is used where the fact that something is electrical is remarkable, or in a more marginal sense:
        The atmosphere was electric.
        (there was a buzz going around, but not high voltage)
        They painted the beach hut electric blue.
        (the colour is bright and vivid, but not connected to a power source)

I hope that helps.

- Garzo.

The amazing Garzo does it again!

I learned the difference like this:

Anything that makes a big difference in history is historic.

Something that is a fact or study of history is historial.

Garzo’s examples are great!

And the difference between ‘electrical’ and ‘electric’ is alot tougher to define, but Garzo has done well there again!

I am curious!  Which one would you normally say?

"I got an electric shock" or "I got an electrical shock"?

Sitran

Garzo, I really don’t know how to thank you- It’s always the same clarity and competence in your explanations! Thank you very much!  :)

I would always say electric shock rather than electrical shock. In many ways you just have to follow the idiom. The shorter word is usually more intense, so that would make sense. I said earlier that something that is electrical just happens to involve electricity. I don’t think I would be that blasé if asked "What sort of shock did you get?"

- Garzo.

Hasn’t this something to do with how specific we are being ?
I would say "an electric shock" because I am being specific about what type of shock. Likewise I would refer to "an electric kettle" or "an electric iron". However I would call them both "electrical appliances" when not being specific about one appliance.

dictionary.com

Well, I must say that some of the examples given for electric and electrical at the site above are very much counterintuitive!

Electrical battery.

Electrical brush.

Electric cable.

Electric, or Electrical, eel

Electrical fish

Electrical light.

Electric, or Electrical, machine

And notice that they have used both "electrical shock" and electric shock" in the definitions:

[an eel] capable of giving a violent electric shock.

[any fish] which….can give an electrical shock.

Sitran

I found in the book of Swan "Practical English Usage" the chapter about the adjectives ending in -IC and -ICAL. (ex. Fantastic- fantastical; tragic- tragical,etc) and I want to ask if I can always use them interchangeably?
What about EGOISTIC(AL), FANATIC(AL)? There are also CLASSIC-CLASSICAL, MAGIC-MAGICAL, POLITIC-POLITICAL and others. Could anybody clear up this issue? Thank you!

Dear Kasia,

I wish I had that Swan book, then I could go over it with you.

I found a page that may answer some of your questions about these particular word pairs and their diffferences!

-ic vs. -ical endings

Although be forewarned, there is an irritating pop-up on that page!

I can’t think of a general rule, perhaps Garzo can restate his to a more general rule, but my basic intuition is that the "-ic"  form is stronger or more basic, and that the "-ical" form is more "-like" or "related to."

Examples:

The Magic Flute  - the flute possesses the magic power

The Magical Flute -a person brings the magic to life in the flute

A classic suit -a suit whose design is not faddy or trendy, but conforms to a longstanding ideal of tayloring

A classical suit -doesn’t make sense, but could refer to Ancient Greek or Latin Garb

This is really hard!

Sitran

Thank you Sitran for help! I hope you are not annoyed with my questions about the differences… - it’s a very interesting area of English language and unfortunately I haven’t got this intuition as you- native speaker. I really like your answers….

I appreciate your kindness, Kasia, but there isn’t an easy answer to your question.  

Usually an augmented form like "-ical" is created to distinguish itself from the meaning of the "-ic" form.
But that being said, each adjective has the opportunity to take on a meaning of its own through usage (fad).

Garzo has probably given you the best general rule, which I interpret as the "-ic" form being the stronger or more central, closer to the noun (if it is not also the noun), and the "ical" form being weaker or less central.

Even if I could figure out a pattern, or general pattern, to these derivations, one would have to learn each root by itself, the only knowledge being that it has an adjective form (even when used as a noun).

The clues are many the solution is difficult!

You are certainly welcome to question me (or all of us here)!

We love this puzzle called "language."

Sitran

PS It does seem that sometimes they are interchangeable, as far as intelligibility is concerned!~

Dear Kasia,
I always admire your straightforward questions.  Asking questions is the best way for all of us to learn.

The -ic/-ical discussion is not English-specific but seems to be connected with international practice of Latin nomenclature.  If you check how your Polish deals with the matter, it would serve greatly.

Flaminius

Thanks, Sitran, for the webpage.

There are a lot of features in most languages that are irregular. There’s nothing for it: you just have to learn every single use. There isn’t really a rule about the -ic/-ical endings. There will always be people who say electrical shock, and there is George Dubya Bush (we thank God that the US hasn’t taken the idea of Queen’s English and created President’s English).

A rule of thumb is:
-ic endings indicate that the item so described is intrinsically connected with the idea behind it - electric eels, electric showers, electric blue, electric supply.

-ical endings indicate that the item so described is concerned with the idea behind it - electrical wiring, electrical skills, electrical appliances.

Egoistic I would use to describe a person’s own belief.
Egoistical I would use to describe any thoughts, words or actions that come from being an egoist.

Fanatic I would use to describe an extremely enthusiastic person.
Fanatical would be the preferred adjective.

Classic I would use to evaluate something: to give it classic status.
Classical I would use as a more factual description of something artful and stylish.

Magic I would use to describe something that is inherently magical: a magic carpet.
Magical I would use to describe something that involves magic, or a sense of magic: a magical holiday.

Politic is quite clearly different from poilitical. It is closer to polite, and is a synonym for diplomatic when describing a thoughtful carefulness: "His interruption was politic, to say the least".
Political is a description of the systems of social authority: "The ‘Axis of Evil’ speech was more political than politic".

I hope that helps.

- Garzo.

Thank you Garzo very much- and as a foreigner I count on your understanding- I know my questions are STRAIGHTFORWARD and not as ambitious as yours…
Thank you for your patience and for help!

According to http://www.yourdictionary.com/ahd/s/s0790400.html

straight·for·ward  Listen: [ strt-fôrwrd ]
adj.

Proceeding in a straight course; direct.

a.  Not circuitous or evasive; honest and frank. See Synonyms at frank1. b.  Free from ambiguity or pretense; plain and open.

adv.

In a direct course or an honest manner.

I meant that it’s a great asset to be straghtforward.