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Guest Posted 22 years ago
Grammar

Adjectives (-ic and -ical)

Hi,

what is difference in using these adjectives e.g. tropic\tropical or magic\magical and many others?
  

Top answer

There are, as you say, many pairs of '-ic' and '-ical' adjectives, but no rule as far as I know for a consistent relationship in meanings; some have simply developed in slightly different directions; others are interchangeable. As for your examples: 'tropic' usually has to do with the actual 'tropics', specific geographical regions of the world, where 'tropical' can be used of things that are similar to the conditions there but not necessarily directly related to the tropics per sé (still, in many uses they are synonyms); 'magic' is generally used to refer to the 'real' thing, where 'magical' is used for phenomena that merely resemble it (a magical day, date), though the dictionary lists them a synonymous.

— Mister Micawber

  • There are, as you say, many pairs of '-ic' and '-ical' adjectives, but no rule as far as I know for a consistent relationship in meanings; some have simply developed in slightly different directions; others are interchangeable.
  • As for your examples: 'tropic' usually has to do with the actual 'tropics', specific geographical regions of the world, where 'tropical' can be used of things that are similar to the conditions there but not necessarily directly related to the tropics per sé (still, in many uses they are synonyms); 'magic' is generally used to refer to the 'real' thing, where 'magical' is used for phenomena that merely resemble it (a magical day, date), though the dictionary lists them a synonymous.
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6 Answers
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There are, as you say, many pairs of '-ic' and '-ical' adjectives, but no rule as far as I know for a consistent relationship in meanings; some have simply developed in slightly different directions; others are interchangeable.

As for your examples: 'tropic' usually has to do with the actual 'tropics', specific geographical regions of the world, where 'tropical' can be used of things
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Thanks for an answer. So,is there any way to tell which of these two sentences is correct(or better)?

He died in a tragical accident.
or
He died in a tragic accident.

I asked this question on different forum and got strange answer.
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Hello,

He died in a TRAGIC accident would be the best way.
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I didn't even know "tragical" was a word! I don't think I've ever heard it used.
Sure enough, it's listed in M-Webster's as a variant of "tragic".

I would never use the variant "tragical".
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The dictionary tends to let words hang around until they need the space for new words like 'prebuttal' or 'soccer mom' and then they boot it out at last. You can find 'tragical' in such as The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus by Chris Marlowe (17th C).
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Jim, I as well of the adjective ironical which is a variant of ironic. Is there a right or wrong way of using these adjectives or is it merely a manner of style or preference?
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