[Phys-L] Re: electric vs. electrical

[Brian Whatcott <betwys1@SBCGLOBAL.NET>]

At 04:35 PM 1/2/2006, you wrote:
> Does anyone know if there is a "proper" distinction between when you use
> "electric" and when you use "electrical"?  In particular, I'm wondering
> whether it is "electric energy" or "electrical energy" and whether it
> makes any difference.  I've noticed that we refer to the "electric
> field", the "electric current" and "electric charge" so I'm guessing we
> should say "electric energy".  If so, is there any situation where we
> should say "electrical" (other than "electrical engineering")?  If not,
> what influences why we use "electric" vs. "electrical"?
>
> Complicating matters is that we say "gravitational field" and "magnetic
> field".  The analogies are not good with either one since "gravitation"
> is a noun while "electric" is not, and there is no word "magnetical".
>
> I'm not sure if this has been addressed on this list or not but I
> couldn't find it in the archives.
> ____________________________________________________
> Robert Cohen, Department of Physics
> East Stroudsburg University; E. Stroudsburg, PA 18301
> 570-422-3428; www.esu.edu/~bbq


There is a historically identifiable drift away from close punctuation;
  away from adjectival -al endings of the  form that Bob mentions;
  away from conjunctions introducing adjectival clauses  (i.e towards
  "of the form Bob mentions").
  I want to suppose that a dictionary usage-quotations editor would
pay particular attention to the usage of people like Bob in
fact.


Brian Whatcott    Altus OK    Eureka!
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