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The National Register lists historic places. San Francisco lists landmarks and
historic districts. The California Office of Historic Preservation lists historical landmarks.
When I cite one of these lists, I alway have to check to see whether to type historic or historical.
Are the two words synonymous?
No, says Grammar Girl. Historic
describes something important or influential in the past. Historical is anything from the past no matter how trivial. Grammar Girl offers the example
of an historical novel versus an historic book such as the Gutenberg Bible. (This raises the issue of
a historic book versus an historic book, but we won't go there.)
Grammar Monster concurs with Grammar Girl.
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