Linked Questions

2 votes
3 answers
20k views

What is the difference between "neurologic" and "neurological"? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Why is it “geometric” but “theoretical”? A Google search was not immediately helpful, but I found this document: http://www.aan.com/globals/axon/assets/...
aelephant's user avatar
  • 157
0 votes
2 answers
2k views

What is the difference between words like "historic" and "historical," and "instructive" and "instructional?" [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Why is it “geometric” but “theoretical”? They're all adjectives, so how do you know when to use one over the other? Does it matter? I think it does...
OnWords's user avatar
  • 55
1 vote
2 answers
5k views

The use of the suffix -al in adjectives [duplicate]

As a non- native speaker of English, I often find myself struggling with the usage of the suffix -al in adjectives. For instance, what's the difference between the words "historic" and "historical", "...
Raisa's user avatar
  • 13
3 votes
2 answers
3k views

What is the difference between -ic and -al? [duplicate]

Is there a defined difference between words like "egotistic" and egotistical" or "manic" and "maniacal" in that one could have a manic smile or maniacal laughter and other words that have similar ...
SophArch's user avatar
  • 945
8 votes
1 answer
1k views

What are the rules for the use of words that have a variant ending in -al? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Why is it “geometric” but “theoretical”? “Electric” vs. “electrical” I think I'm clear on the difference between word pairs ...
Mike Partridge's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
212 views

"-ic versus -ical" what's the difference in meaning between adjectives ending in -ic or -ical? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Why is it “geometric” but “theoretical”? “Ironic” vs. “ironical” “Comic” vs. “comical” “Historic” vs. “historical” What's the difference for instance between ironic/...
user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
166 views

logic/logical, arithmetic/arithmetical operators [duplicate]

Is it logic operators or logical operators / arithmetic operators or arithmetical operators. I'd expect both cases to be the same (either have the al suffix or not), and I usually check Google when I"...
Juan's user avatar
  • 115
1 vote
0 answers
150 views

What's the difference between suffix "c" and "cal" in adjectives? [duplicate]

I know there is a difference in meaning between "economic" and "economical" but what about "geographic" and "geographical" or "analytic" and "analytical"?
raisa's user avatar
  • 11
0 votes
1 answer
148 views

Why do some words have suffixes -ic and -ical and how are they different? [duplicate]

At the moment I am thinking of the word historic vs. historical. Fantastic and fantastical are another set. When is it appropriate to use each word, and why doesn't the suffix -ical exist with words ...
Jason P Sallinger's user avatar
49 votes
5 answers
166k views

What is the difference between "electric" and "electrical" and their usage?

What is the difference between electric and electrical and their usage? For example, what is the difference between "electrical machine" and "electric machine"?
Computist's user avatar
  • 1,407
24 votes
3 answers
57k views

Difference between "classical" and "classic"

What's the difference between classical and classic? Should we say classic content in textbooks or classical content in textbooks?
Computist's user avatar
  • 1,407
21 votes
6 answers
58k views

"Magic" versus "magical"

Two-part question. We say magic wand and magical creature and swapping the adjectives sounds wrong, even though both are technically correct. Are there rules about which one to use, or is this a ...
kontextify's user avatar
20 votes
4 answers
71k views

Usage of "symmetrical" and "symmetric"

What is the appropriate usage of "symmetrical" and "symmetric" (using the geometrical adjectival definition of both terms)? Are they synonymous?
naught101's user avatar
  • 757
19 votes
4 answers
15k views

Is there a rule for which suffix to use when creating adjectives from nouns?

There are many suffixes that are used to create adjectives from nouns (-al, -ic, -ive, -y). Are there any rules used to create adjectives from nouns? In example, why is the adjective excessive, and ...
avpaderno's user avatar
  • 59.6k
16 votes
3 answers
35k views

"Geometric" or "Geometrical"?

I have read the excellent answers to Why is it "geometric" but "theoretical" - my question is specifically about usage. Is there a best practice for deciding between the variants geometric and ...
user76407's user avatar
  • 245

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