[Vocabulary] 'Historic' or 'Historical'

[Barman]

1) The Taj Mahal is an excellent historic monument.

2) The Taj Mahal is an excellent historical monument.

Of the above-named sentences which one is correct?

Please advise me.

 

[SoothingDave]

This is a common topic that you could have found covered by a simple search.

"Historic" is something important.

"Historical" is something from the past.

 

[Barman]

I am eager to know whether I can use both the words appropriately in either case or not.

 

[GoesStation]

I'd like [STRIKE]am eager[/STRIKE] to know whether I can use both the words appropriately in either case or not.

I'd amend Dave's definition a little. "Historic" is an important event. Using this definition, which word can apply to a building?

 

[Barman]

"I'd amend Dave's definition a little. "Historic" is an important event. Using this definition, which word can apply to a building?"

According to your advice the word "Historical" is applicable to the sentences.

 

[GoesStation]

According to your advice the word "Historical" is applicable to the sentences.

That's right.

 

[tedmc]

Historic is also applied to buildings, in fact more so in the case of the Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/dictionary.cambridge.org/amp/english/historic

Any old building worthy of preservation is a historical building.

 

[TheParser]

NOT A TEACHER


1. I would not use "historical" in either of your sentences. For No. 2, I would just say that "The Taj Mahal is an imposing monument." ("Historical" seems to be implied in the word "monument.")

2. For No. 1, I would say something like: "Everyone who visits India wants to visit the historic Taj Mahal." (It is not necessary to remind your readers/listeners that it is a monument.)

a. You could say, however, something like: "An excellent example of a historic monument is the Taj Mahal."