Historic vs historical
Historic means important enough to be remembered in history. Historical means connected with the past, or based on real events from the past.
A historic event makes history. A historical event simply happened in the past.
historic adjective
Important enough to be remembered in history.
- The signing of the peace treaty was a historic moment for both nations.
- The team made a historic comeback to win its first championship.
historical adjective
Connected with the past or with history, as in historical novels set in the past. Also, really existing in the past rather than only in legend.
- The author specializes in historical fiction set during the Tudor era.
- The library keeps historical records of every family in the valley.
Watch out
- Historic can also describe an old building, place or object that has survived from the past and is valued for that, like a historic town.The town's historic quarter keeps its old gas lamps and cobblestone lanes.
- Historic sometimes just means of the past, in set phrases like the historic present in grammar, and in British English, as in historic abuse. Historical for very important is rare. Otherwise, follow the main rule.
Test yourself
Landing on the moon was a blank achievement that people will never forget.
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historic. The landing was so important that it will be remembered in history.
She loves reading blank novels set in ancient Egypt.
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historical. The novels are stories set in the past.
Scholars still argue about whether the hero was a blank person or only a legend.
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historical. The question is whether he really lived, as opposed to being a legend.
The day the war ended was a blank day for the whole country.
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historic. The day was very important and will be remembered in history.
Full entries: historichistorical