One is an event that made history, the other simply belongs to the past.
Adjective. Famous, important, or memorable in history. Something so significant it became a milestone.
The moon landing was a historic event.
El alunizaje fue un evento histórico.
We witnessed a historic victory yesterday.
Ayer fuimos testigos de una victoria histórica.
She made a historic speech that changed the country.
Ella dio un discurso histórico que cambió el país.
Adjective. Related to history or the past. Does not imply special importance or significance.
We visited a historical museum about World War II.
Visitamos un museo histórico sobre la Segunda Guerra Mundial.
The film is based on historical facts.
La película está basada en hechos históricos.
The university has historical records dating back to 1800.
La universidad tiene registros históricos que datan de 1800.
Common mistake
Using 'historic' for anything related to the past. Wrong: "The museum has historic records." for ordinary past documents. (correct: historical records)
Trick to remember it
'Historic' = it MAKES history (so important it will be remembered). 'Historical' = it BELONGS to history (past, but not necessarily important). Did it create a milestone? Historic. Did it just happen in the past? Historical.
Quick rule
Was the event so important it became a milestone? Use 'historic'. Is it simply referring to something from the past? Use 'historical'.
Did you know?
There is a classic grammar debate: 'a historic' or 'an historic'. Strictly, 'a' goes before consonants, so 'a historic event' is correct. But because the 'h' is softly aspirated, 'an historic event' appears in formal and literary English. Both are accepted.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
The fall of the Berlin Wall was a _____ moment that changed the world.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
The documentary is based on _____ facts from the early 1900s.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Was the event so important it became a milestone? Use 'historic'. Is it simply referring to something from the past? Use 'historical'.
Using 'historic' for anything related to the past. Wrong: "The museum has historic records." for ordinary past documents. (correct: historical records)
'Historic' = it MAKES history (so important it will be remembered). 'Historical' = it BELONGS to history (past, but not necessarily important). Did it create a milestone? Historic. Did it just happen in the past? Historical.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy