whats the difference between 'economic' and 'economical'?

[2coasts]

The two words seem to have the same meaning to me... but do they?

[Unregistered]

Looks to me like you've stumped the entire forum with that one.

[michaelsuave]

ec�o�nom�ic

Of or relating to the production, development, and management of material wealth, as of a country, household, or business enterprise.
Of or relating to an economy: a period of sustained economic growth.
Of or relating to the science of economics: new economic theories regarding the effects of deficit spending.
Of or relating to the practical necessities of life; material: wrote the book primarily for economic reasons.

Financially rewarding; economical: It was no longer economic to keep the manufacturing facilities open.
Efficient; economical: an economic use of home heating oil

They mean the same thing, according to webster, and he's a really smart guy.;)

[Seer]

While they can both mean the same thing in context, economical is a more precise word to describe efficiency. MW points out that economic can be used in place of economical, but not necessarily the other way around.

[michaelsuave]

I concur, economic can mean the same thing as economical, but not necesarily vice versa. thank you for adding that note, i forgot to.

[2coasts]

"economics" is a noun, but not economic

[Seer]

Your point? You can say "This coffeemaker is economical." or "This coffeemaker is economic." and you could say "There was an economic downturn." but not "There was an economical downturn."

[Hamma]

My brain hurts.

[Squeeky]

Originally posted by Hamma
My brain hurts.

:o

[Valor]

"This coffeemaker is economic." - Thats a garbage sentance,

Thus Economical is an an Adjective.. hmm

"he made economical use of the truth" - and an adverb apparently

hmm my head hurts =)

Valor.

[Seer]

Okay, you're probably right.

[BladeRunner]

This one time, I was out with some guys on a boat.. and then..

Oh, sorry.. wrong thread

[Ginzue]

Well Econimic is the pronoun of the adjative or the origional word econimic witch is divisable by the reimander of the multable which ends up with exactly 3.149730981274228!

I JUST SOLVED PI WITH THAT WORD! YAY!

This thred kinda pisses me off, it hurts me ed.

[Airlift]

Economic is more economical by two letters.

[PR24]

Originally posted by 2coasts
The two words seem to have the same meaning to me... but do they?

:spam: