Historic vs. Historical: Know the Difference
The Simple Difference
- Historic = important, significant, making history
- Historical = relating to or about history
Historic: Significant Events
Use “historic” for events or things that are important enough to be remembered:
- “The moon landing was a historic moment.” ✓
- “This is a historic decision.” ✓
- “They signed the treaty in a historic ceremony.” ✓
Historical: Related to History
Use “historical” for anything connected to the past or the study of history:
- “The historical records show…” ✓
- “She writes historical fiction.” ✓
- “The museum has historical artifacts.” ✓
The Test
Ask yourself: “Is this making history, or just about history?”
- Making history → historic
- About history → historical
Examples That Show the Difference
| Historic | Historical |
|---|---|
| A historic victory | Historical documents |
| Historic achievement | Historical accuracy |
| Historic landmark | Historical research |
Common Mistakes
❌ “The historical election changed everything.” ✓ “The historic election changed everything.” (It was significant)
❌ “The movie wasn’t historic accurate.” ✓ “The movie wasn’t historically accurate.” (Relating to history)
A Note on “A” vs. “An”
This is a bonus tip! Both are correct:
- “A historic moment” ✓ (American English preference)
- “An historic moment” ✓ (British English preference)
The “an” version comes from older British pronunciation where the H was softer.
Remember
- Historic = history-making
- Historical = history-related