| Author |
Message |
Paul Burke
Guest
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 2:19 pm
Post subject: -ic, -ical |
|
|
Is there a rule to predict whether an adjective takes the form -ical (as
in political, hypothetical), rather than -ic (as in catalytic, systematic)?
Paul Burke
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Sceptic-Al
Guest
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 11:46 pm
Post subject: Re: -ic, -ical |
|
|
Paul Burke <paul@scazon.com> wrote in message news:<3av2peF6g5emqU1@individual.net>...
| Quote: | Is there a rule to predict whether an adjective takes the form -ical (as
in political, hypothetical), rather than -ic (as in catalytic, systematic)?
Paul Burke
|
No. There are pairs, like "politic"/"political",
"historic"/"historical", where the meanings differ. There are also
pairs, like "ironic"/"ironical", "problematic"/"problematical", where
it does not. There is a suggestion that -ic is more American and
-ical more British. Often, a form in -ical correlates with a word in
-ic (music <-> musical; topic <-> topical), whereas a form in -ic
correlates with a word in -y (economy <-> economic; comedy <->
comedic). Words in -ics tend towards -ical (ethics <-> ethical;
statistics <-> statistical) unless -ic arose first (acoustic ->
acoustics; phonetic -> phonetics). Historically/etymologically there
has been crossover between forms, aided by the common form of the
adverb in -ically. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Giles Todd
Guest
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 6:25 am
Post subject: Re: -ic, -ical |
|
|
On 13 Apr 2005 10:46:23 -0700, alan.ashton.jeanes@virgin.net
(Sceptic-Al) wrote:
| Quote: | No. There are pairs, like "politic"/"political",
"historic"/"historical", where the meanings differ. There are also
pairs, like "ironic"/"ironical", "problematic"/"problematical", where
it does not. There is a suggestion that -ic is more American and
-ical more British. Often, a form in -ical correlates with a word in
-ic (music <-> musical; topic <-> topical), whereas a form in -ic
correlates with a word in -y (economy <-> economic; comedy <-
comedic). Words in -ics tend towards -ical (ethics <-> ethical;
statistics <-> statistical) unless -ic arose first (acoustic -
acoustics; phonetic -> phonetics). Historically/etymologically there
has been crossover between forms, aided by the common form of the
adverb in -ically.
|
And then there are times when an economy of words apparently demands
that one become economical with the truth.
Giles
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Danny Collman
Guest
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 11:06 pm
Post subject: Re: -ic, -ical |
|
|
In message <uqdr5118fd2vhlbgmeliqc5d1g6cn107ar@4ax.com>, Giles Todd
<g@prullenbak.todd.nu> writes
| Quote: | On 13 Apr 2005 10:46:23 -0700, alan.ashton.jeanes@virgin.net
(Sceptic-Al) wrote:
No. There are pairs, like "politic"/"political",
"historic"/"historical", where the meanings differ. There are also
pairs, like "ironic"/"ironical", "problematic"/"problematical", where
it does not. There is a suggestion that -ic is more American and
-ical more British. Often, a form in -ical correlates with a word in
-ic (music <-> musical; topic <-> topical), whereas a form in -ic
correlates with a word in -y (economy <-> economic; comedy <-
comedic). Words in -ics tend towards -ical (ethics <-> ethical;
statistics <-> statistical) unless -ic arose first (acoustic -
acoustics; phonetic -> phonetics). Historically/etymologically there
has been crossover between forms, aided by the common form of the
adverb in -ically.
And then there are times when an economy of words apparently demands
that one become economical with the truth.
Giles
|
I'd be fascinated to know the meaning of this highly cryptic(al)
response.
--
Danny Collman |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Giles Todd
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2005 7:29 am
Post subject: Re: -ic, -ical |
|
|
On Sat, 16 Apr 2005 18:06:40 +0100, Danny Collman
<ddcollman@hwthwood.demon.co.uk> wrote:
| Quote: | I'd be fascinated to know the meaning of this highly cryptic(al)
response.
|
Just a counter-example for the ones given in Sceptic-Al's post. I do
realize that he was not laying down hard and fast rules.
Giles |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| |
FAQ
Memberlist
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in