Hello Anna, thanks for your question – I’m sure other students have wondered about this as well. In fact, I’ve often heard people who have English as their first language make mistakes with these two adjectives. You’re absolutely right when you say that these are both adjectives and they do have some similarity in their meaning, but they are different.
Economic is used to describe anything which has a relationship with the economy (money and trade) of a place or the finances that someone or a group of people have. Common uses include:
economic growth
economic development
economic reform
Economic can also refer (and this is where it might get confusing) to the profitability or successful of a business. For example:
Unless we start making money, it will not be economic to keep this supermarket branch open.
Similarly (but slightly differently!), economical means using money or resources in a way which minimises any waste of money or any other resource. Have a look at these examples:
It’s important to be economical with our oil reserves – they may soon run out.
It can be very economical to rent out an empty room in your house – that way you will be able to share some of your costs.
Try to be economical with the fabric when you cut out the shapes – we haven’t got any more.
So while economic describes anything economy-related or the success of a business, economical refers to avoiding waste.
Economical is probably more commonly used in its opposite form: uneconomical. For example:
Driving to work alone is uneconomical if you have a colleague who lives nearby.
An interesting idiom is being economical with the truth, which means only saying what needs to be said and not revealing all the details, even though they might be important. It’s not quite as bad as lying!
Hopefully this will shed some light on this pair of words for you – try and use one or both of them in a conversation over the next couple of days to really cement your knowledge.
As an enthusiast deeply versed in language and grammar intricacies, I'm here to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the concepts discussed in the article you shared. My expertise in language nuances and usage allows me to dissect the distinctions between the adjectives "economic" and "economical."
The article correctly points out that both terms are adjectives, sharing a semblance in meaning but diverging in their applications. Let's delve into each concept:
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Economic:
- Definition: Used to describe anything related to the economy, encompassing money, trade, and financial matters.
- Examples: economic growth, economic development, economic reform.
- Business Context: Can also refer to the profitability or success of a business.
- Example: "Unless we start making money, it will not be economic to keep this supermarket branch open."
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Economical:
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Definition: Pertains to using money or resources in a manner that minimizes waste.
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Examples: It's important to be economical with our oil reserves; renting out an empty room in your house can be very economical.
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Usage in Fabrication: Involves being prudent with resources, as in cutting shapes from fabric without wastage.
- Example: "Try to be economical with the fabric when you cut out the shapes – we haven’t got any more."
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Opposite Form: More commonly used in its opposite form, "uneconomical."
- Example: "Driving to work alone is uneconomical if you have a colleague who lives nearby."
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Idiomatic Usage: "Being economical with the truth" implies selectively sharing information, revealing only what is deemed necessary.
- Example: "He was being economical with the truth about the project's challenges."
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In summary, while "economic" primarily revolves around matters related to the economy and business success, "economical" is centered on the efficient use of resources to avoid waste. The article's illustrative examples and practical applications help reinforce the distinction between these often-confused adjectives. Feel free to incorporate these insights into your discussions to solidify your understanding of these nuanced terms.
