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One is an event that made history, the other simply belongs to the past.
Side-by-side comparison
"Historic" describes something that was important or significant in history, an event worth remembering because of its impact.
The moon landing was a historic event.
We witnessed a historic victory yesterday.
She made a historic speech that changed the country.
"Historical" simply describes something belonging to the past or relating to history, without implying it was important. A historical novel or a historical document.
We visited a historical museum about World War II.
The film is based on historical facts.
The university has historical records dating back to 1800.
Common mistake
- •"The film is based on historic facts" for ordinary past facts is imprecise: "historic" = so important it made history.
- •For facts that simply belong to the past: "historical".
- •Was it a memorable milestone? "Historic".
- •Did it just happen in the past? "Historical".
Trick to remember it
- •"Historic" = it makes history (so important it will be remembered).
- •"Historical" = it belongs to history (past, not necessarily important).
- •A speech can be "historic" (a milestone) or just "historical" (from the past).
Quick rule
- •Was it a milestone that made history? "Historic".
- •Does it simply refer to something from the past? "Historical".
Did you know?
In formal English there is a classic debate: "a historic" or "an historic." Strictly, "a" comes before consonants, so "a historic event" is correct. But because the H in "historic" is softly aspirated, some writers use "an historic event" in formal or literary English, especially in British English. Both forms are accepted, though "a historic" is preferred in contemporary English. The debate traces to a period when the aspirated H was considered slightly softer than a full consonant, prompting the "an" before it.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
Signing the peace agreement was a _____ moment. Nothing like it had ever happened before.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
She found some _____ documents in the attic. They were from the 1800s.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
"Above" is at a higher level without contact; "over" implies covering, movement, or crossing.
'Currently' means 'at the present time'; 'actually' means 'in reality', not 'nowadays'.
"Actually" corrects or contrasts an assumption; "really" intensifies or confirms.
'Adopt' means to take something on as your own; 'adapt' means to adjust to something new.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy