2020-10-09
151222-2–ศัพท์ น่าสับสน ชุด H - historic & historical & history
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การใช้ภาษาอังกฤษ ไม่กำหนดมาตฐาน ถือตามส่วนใหญ่ที่ใช้แต่ละท้องถิ่น
ความหมาย อาจยืดหยุ่น ขึ้นอยู่กับ ตำแหน่ง/หน้าที่ ในประโยค
Dictionary.com
ออกเสียง Historic = ‘hi-STAWR-ik’
ออกเสียง historical = ‘hi-STAWR-i-kuhl’ or ‘hi-STOR-i-kuhl’
ออกเสียง history = ‘HIS-tuh-ree’ or ‘HIS-tree’
อาจสับสนกับ Hysterical = ‘hi-STER-i-kuhl’
BRITISH DICTIONARY DEFINITIONS FOR HISTORIC
historic
USAGE FOR HISTORIC
A distinction is usually made between historic (important, significant) and historical (pertaining to history):
a historic decision;
a historical perspective
Dictionary.com
Historic” vs. “Historical:”
Are They Synonyms?
Hillary Clinton was the first female nominee from a major party for the office of US president.
Now, Kamala Harris—while she is the third woman to run for vice president—is the first woman of color on a major party’s ticket.
These strong women are setting important examples for the next generation of children, but have their candidacies been historic or historical?
Or are these incredibly similar words simply synonyms that can be interchanged?
Let’s take a closer look.
What does historic mean?
Historic is an adjective that means“well-known or important in history.”
For example:
the Declaration of Independence is a historic document crucial to the United States’s history.
Or: that building around the corner is a historic landmark and deserves to be renovated.
Historic was first recorded around 1605–15.
It originates from the Greek historikós (“historical, scientific”) via the Latin historicus.
Synonyms for historic include notable, renowned, famous, famed, and memorable.
What does historical mean?
Historical is an adjective that can be defined as
“of, pertaining to, treating, or characteristic of history or past events.”
For example:
when he was going through the garage, he found some historical documents from World War II in what he thought were just boxes of junk.
Historical can also refer to something that is
“based on or reconstructed from an event, custom, or style from history.”
For example:
the theater company invested a huge amount of time and money
to ensure the historical costumes were as authentic as possible.
Lastly, historical can meansomething that existed
(“opposed to being part of legend or fiction or as distinguished from religious belief”).
It can also mean “several”
pertaining to analysis based on a comparison among several periods of development … as in language or economics.”
First recorded in 1375–1425, historical stems from late Middle English
and is ultimately derived from the same Latin word
as historic, “historic” us.
Synonyms for historical include documented, authentic, factual, and attested.
How to use each word
Words pairs like historic and historical originallyhad similar meanings.
Over time, how we use them has changed. (See also economic vs economical.)
Today, we use historic to describesomething important from the past,
while historical tends to refer tosomething from a previous time.
So, they aren’t really synonyms after all.
For example:
when Barack Obama was named president of the United States, it was a historic moment.
Photos from his inauguration will become historical artifacts for future generations.
To help keep it straight,
remember that something historic is more than just a relic of the past.
It has an influential or a lasting impact on history.
Other examples include:
- Although you may not read about it in a textbook, this spot right here is historic, as it’s where I met your mother and my life changed forever.
- July 20, 1969 was a historic day for mankind because astronauts landed on the moon for the first time.
- Although it wasn’t the biggest Civil War battle, the Battle of Gettysburg was historic as it marked a crucial failure for Robert E. Lee’s army.
- Those shopping for a new home are in luck as interest rates are at a historic low.
On the other hand,
historical is simply something from the past or related to history
but not necessarily monumental.
Examples include:
- They took a trip to Colonial Williamsburg to learn about life during that historical era.
- Some have used historical data from the 1918 Spanish flu to predict what the long-term effects of the coronavirus pandemic might be.
Unfortunately historic and historical aren’t really synonyms,
but you may be surprised to find out that the words in this article are:
“Did You Know These Words Were Surprisingly Synonyms?“
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
historic or historical?
Do you experience a slight pause before using either of these words
as you try to remember which one is correct
and whether it should be preceded by an or a?
If so, you’re not alone, for many people find this pair particularly tricky.
Historic and historical are both occasionally found preceded by an,
since the initial h in each word was formerly left unpronounced.
Now this h is heard, and a is far more common than an
(by a ratio of about 4 to 1 in American English).
Historic and historical have been used interchangeably by many writers,
even in recent years.
If you would like to avoid being corrected, however,
use historical for matters relating to history
(the historical society), and historic to refer to things having great and lasting importance (a historic occasion)
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Usage Notes
What's the Difference Between 'Historic' and 'Historical'?
And should you use 'a' or 'an' before each one?
What to Know
Historic and historical can be interchangeable,
but have taken on separate roles in most use cases.
"Historical" is used as the general termfor describing history,
such as "historical society," while "historic"
is usually reserved for important and famous moments in history
such as "a historic battle."
Concerning using "a" vs. "an," either is fine, but "a" is more common.
'A' vs. 'An'
Historic and historical: what a pair.
First off, there's the question of whether to use a or an before them.
Both a and an are used, but a is far more common
—as much as four times more common in American English, by some measurements
—which is what you'd expect for a word that, like habit and hero,
begins with an audible \h\
At their core, 'historic' and 'historical' are simply variants of the same word.
However, over 400+ years of use, they've mostly settled into distinct roles.
So why do some people say "an historic" and "an historical"? Well, historic and historical differ from habit and hero in a crucial way.
They have their accented, or stressed, syllable second, not first.
It used to be that an initial "h" was not pronouncedin many such words,
which is how "an historic" and "an historical" came to be used in the first place.
Both words are now, however, typically pronounced with an audible \h\.
(A vs. an can be tricky: in fact, we've written an entire article about it.)
As for which word to use where, the answer is similarly complicated.
Historic vs. Historical Usage
The two words are at their core simply variants, but over 400-plus years of use,
they've mostly settled (emphasis on "mostly") into distinct roles.
Historical is the typical choice for the broad and general uses relating to history.
It's the one used to modify words like museum and society, and it's the one found in contexts like these:
… how much did Shakespeare's "Henry V" have to do with the historical monarch who fought the battle of Agincourt?
— Andrew O'Hehir, Salon, 7 Oct. 2015
George Washington, who has been cited as the first American to have made historical note of the avocado, wrote of encountering "agovago pairs" on a trip to Barbados in 1751.
— Andrea Nguyen, Saveur, August/September, 2007
Historic is most commonly used forsomething famous or important in history:
It has been billed the most historic and oldest regatta in the county….
— Sue DeWerff, Florida Today, 16 May 2013
Nestled in the country's southwest border alongside Switzerland and France, Baden stretches from Lake Constance's glistening shores along the brooding Black Forest to historic Heidelberg.
— Anne Krebiehl, Wine Enthusiast, February 2014
People who write about matters such as these
tend to pretend that the differentiation is more absolute than it is;
there are, in fact, instances to be found in which skilled writers apply one word where the other is typically found, and vice versa.
Still, the distinction outlined above is a good one to follow if you want to communicate efficiently with your reader.
Collins COBUILD English Usage
Historic – historical
1. 'historic'
You use historic to say that something was important in history,
or that it will be regarded as important in the future.
...their historic struggle for emancipation.
...a historic decision.
2. 'historical'
You use historical to say that someone orsomething really existed
or happened in the past, rather than being invented by a writer.
Which historical figure would be guest of honour at your house-warming party?
Historical novels, plays, and films deal withreal or imaginary events in the past.
...Richard of Bordeaux, a historical play by Gordon Daviot.
Historical occurs in the names of some organizations concerned with the subject of history.
...the German Historical Institute.
However, if you want to say that something relates to the teaching of history,
you use history in front of another noun.
You do not use 'historic' or 'historical'.
...a history book.
...a history lesson.
Dictionary of Problem Words and Expression
Historic – historical
The senses of these words overlap.
But historic should be used to refer to something
that is renowned, influential, or history-making
(the historic meeting of Livingstone and Stanley).
Historical means “concerned with or contained in history”
(a specialist in historical studies).
Pronounce them “hi-STOR-ik” and “hi-STOR-i-kal.”
Historically has five syllables: “hi-STOR-i-kal-ly.”
History should pronounce “HIS-tur-I,” not “HIS-try.”
Common Errors in English Usage Dictionary
The meaning of “historic” has been narrowed down to “famous in history.”
One should not call a building, site, district, or event “historical.”
Sites may be of historical interest if historians are interested in them, but not just because they are old.
In America “historic” is grossly overused as a synonym for “older than my father’s day.”
You should use “an” before a word beginning with an “H”
only if the “H” is not pronounced:
“An honest effort.” It’s “a historic event” and “a hysterical scene.”
However, a lot of sophisticated people like the sound of “an historical,” so it’s not likely to get you into trouble.
