Electric or Electrical :

How to use the Adjectival suffixes: -ic and -ical?


We use electrical to describe systems, industries, components and certain machines or devices. Consider the following:

Electrical appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers use a lot of electricity.

My new car has electrically-operated windows.

My house was full of electrical and electronic (note: not ‘electronical’) equipment.

The electrical and mechanical engineering industries are doing well at the present time.

The Electrical Sector plans new measures for next year.

We use electric to describe things to do with current and voltage, simpler machines and devices and the atmosphere. Consider the following:

An electric fire in winter and an electric fan in summer were all I needed.

The electric wiring in this house needs to be renewed.

The atmosphere was electric when Tina Turner came on stage.

It very much depends upon context as to which one you use.