I looked up the dictionary and found that the interpretaions to these two words were very similar. I have seen many occassions in which these two words are interchangeable. Can anyone give me some sample sentences to illustrate the difference between them? Thank you.
electric / electrical
- Thread starter EnglishBug
- Start date
Hello EnglishBug,
JulianStuart has pointed you in the direction of some good answers. Allow me to show you two threads in particular that try to simplify this complicated answer.
Electric energy or electrical energy?
Electric/electrical device
The first link contains this explanatory post (post #3):
I hope one of these threads helps a little.
JulianStuart has pointed you in the direction of some good answers. Allow me to show you two threads in particular that try to simplify this complicated answer.
Electric energy or electrical energy?
Electric/electrical device
The first link contains this explanatory post (post #3):
In the electric/electrical device thread, Panjandrum comes to the rescue by quoting Fowler:JamesM said:I think it's usually "electric" in front of a device or machine, but "electrical" in front of "energy". If "electric" is being used figuratively, though, it could be used in front of energy.
For example, "The star was due to come on stage any moment, and there was an electric energy spreading through the audience." To say "electrical energy" in this context would sound like the crowd was being shocked by electricity.
I hope one of these threads helps a little.
Right. If there's real electricity in it, it's "electric." If it's about electricity, but isn't charged or powered with any inside, it's "electrical."
Thus, we have "electric blanket" and "electrical engineer."
Thus, we have "electric blanket" and "electrical engineer."
Here's my general understanding:
electric = runs on electricity, electronic (specific term) [electric car, electric fan, electric appliance, etc. Also metaphorically: exciting, energetic]
electrical = having to do with/concerning electricity (broader term) [electrical engineer, electrical wiring, electrical tape, electrical shortage, electrical energy, etc.]
I'm sure there are many exceptions, of course. One that springs to my mind is "electric company" for the organization that runs a power-plant. Sometimes the two words may be used interchangeably, as "electrical/electric shock".
electric = runs on electricity, electronic (specific term) [electric car, electric fan, electric appliance, etc. Also metaphorically: exciting, energetic]
electrical = having to do with/concerning electricity (broader term) [electrical engineer, electrical wiring, electrical tape, electrical shortage, electrical energy, etc.]
I'm sure there are many exceptions, of course. One that springs to my mind is "electric company" for the organization that runs a power-plant. Sometimes the two words may be used interchangeably, as "electrical/electric shock".
Therefore, when talking about performing maintenance on the electric devices of an industrial plant, I should say electrical maintenance, right?
Got it, thank you very much!
I'd call them electrical wires, or just "'wires." "Electric wires" sounds strange to me, but it's not impossible that some people might say it.
This video would be referring to power lines, such as the ones strung across telephone poles. I would call them "power lines" or "electrical lines". As with the small colored wires, "electric wires" is possible - it's clear what is meant - but wouldn't be my preferred term.
Don't you think the electric eel should, in fact, be called "electrical eel"?
Nope
After all, it's not operated by electricity, like an electric drill.Nope
It creates its own electricity . All electric fish have an electric organ
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