Difference Between Historic and Historical

Historic vs Historical
 

Difference between historic and historical is a confusing fact for many as they both are adjectives that have a connection to the noun history. Historic and Historical are two terms that are often confused in terms of their usage. Actually, they are different words conveying different meanings. The word historic is used in the sense of ‘remarkable’ or ‘famous’. On the other hand, the word historical is used in the sense of ‘past’. This is the main difference between the two words. It is interesting to note that the word historic is used as an adjective. At the same time the word historical is also used as an adjective. Although the word historic is derived from the word ‘history’, it altogether has a different meaning as ‘remarkable’. The word historical has its adverbial form in the word ‘historically’.

What does Historic mean?

The word historic is used in the sense of remarkable or famous. Take a look at the two sentences given below:

England scored a historic win over Italy.

It was a historic event and hence was attended by thousands of people worldwide.

In both the sentences, the word historic is used in the sense of ‘remarkable’ or ‘famous.’ As a result, the meaning of the first sentence would be ‘England scored a remarkable win over Italy’ and the meaning of the second sentence would be ‘it was a famous event and hence was attended by thousands of people worldwide’.

What does Historical mean?

The word historical is used in the sense of past. Observe the two sentences given below:

Write short notes on some historical events during Mughal period.

Many books have been written on historical events.

In both the sentences, the word historical is used in the sense of ‘past.’ Hence, the meaning of the first sentence would be ‘write short notes on some of the events of the past that took place in the Mughal period’ and the meaning of the second sentence would be ‘many books have been written on the events of the past’.

Now, bearing all that you have learnt about historic and historical, have look at the following sentences.

Will you stop talking about Sarah’s past? All of her faults are historic/ historical events now.

Look at the sentence given above. According to this sentence what do you think is the right answer? If we put historic as the correct answer then the events will be qualified as remarkable or famous events. Does that apply for this situation? It does not. It is simple because we are talking about events that took place in someone’s past. When speaking about the past, the adjective historical should be used.

What is the difference between Historic and Historical?

• The word historic is used in the sense of ‘remarkable’ or ‘famous’.

• On the other hand, the word historical is used in the sense of ‘past’.

• Both historic and historical have derived from the word history.

• The word historical has its adverbial form in the word ‘historically’.

• Historic and historical are both adjectives.

These are the important differences between the two words, namely, historic and historical.