One for the history books

Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the federal holiday that honors the civil rights leader every year around his birthday. King would have turned 95 this year.

When describing King’s legacy, would you say he is a historic or historical figure? Both descriptions are, of course, correct, but there’s one that’s a bit more apt.

Although “historic” and “historical” are often ​used interchangeably​, “historic” is generally reserved for things that are particularly notable. “Historical,” meanwhile, can refer to any past event. Therefore, we would describe King as a historic figure.

And don’t forget to drop the “n” before both words: It’s “a historic,” not “an historic.”

Since commonly confused words such as “historic” and “historical” have historically been a problem for writers, Stylebot makes it easy for you to brush up on their differences.

What’s missing from our list? Leave a comment and let us know.

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