frequently or often?

[ostap77]

"Where two or more of the main avenues cross, there is often a parklike circle, named for a prominent historical personage who is usually represented in the middle of the circle by a bronze equestrian statue."

Which adverb is better "often" or "frequently"? Is it "historical personage" or "historic personage"?

 

[probus]

often = frequently. I can see no difference.

To my ears "historical personage" is preferable, but dictionaries seem to equate historical and historic.

 

[birdeen's call]

Ostap, have you tried to answer this question yourself? There are plenty of threads about the difference between "historic" and "historical", on this forum and on others.

 

[Barb_D]

I object to "personage" if you care. Why not say "person"?

 

[probus]

Well the only person who used personage was the author of ostap's quotation, and she or he is not listening.

 

[Raymott]

Well the only person who used personage was the author of ostap's quotation, and she or he is not listening.

Exactly. And since Ostap wants to interfere with the author's quotation, he might as well change "personage" (which I don't like either), to "person".

 

[ostap77]

Exactly. And since Ostap wants to interfere with the author's quotation, he might as well change "personage" (which I don't like either), to "person".

Would "personage" seem unnatural and is rarely used in the context?

 

[Raymott]

Would "personage" seem unnatural and is rarely used in the context?

It's outdated and unnecessary. I wouldn't like to be called a personage, and if I used the term, it would be ironically or facetiously:
"Someone, in the personage of ostap77, asked the following question: ..."

But you will find it used for important people in various contexts.