Vocabulary · Free lesson
Economic and economical: two useful meanings
A report about employment and a printer that uses little ink both involve money, but they describe different things.
Professor Scott MendozaThe short answer
Economic usually means related to the economy: an economic report. Economical commonly means using little money, energy, or other resources: economical to run.
Related to the economy, or efficient to use?
An economic report discusses the economy. An economical printer uses resources efficiently. Economical to run does not tell you that the purchase price is low. Ask what the adjective describes, not just whether money is mentioned.
Compare the examples
The article discusses economic growth.
The printer is economical to run.
We are economical with paper.
A machine can be expensive to buy but economical to run. Those statements do not contradict each other.
Build the meaning step by step
Identify the topic
a report about jobs and trade → an economic report
Identify efficient use
a printer that uses little ink → economical to run
Try it now
Read the intended meaning
Read all answers and explanations
The report examines jobs and trade. What does economic describe here?
It is about the economy.The subject is the economy; the sentence gives no printing-cost information.
A printer is economical to run. What can you conclude from that phrase?
It uses relatively few resources when operating.Running efficiency is the point. The purchase price is not stated.
We are economical with paper. Which action fits?
We avoid wasting paper.Economical with a resource means using it carefully, with little waste.
Put it into practice
Preserve the two meanings
Rewrite the note without adding facts about price.
The report is about the economy. The printer uses little ink.
See a model answer
It is an economic report, and the printer is economical with ink.
Clear vocabulary preserves the original facts.
A little more clarity
Common questions
A few useful details before you move on.
Does economical always mean cheap to buy?
No. It can describe low use of money, energy, materials, or other resources. Check whether the phrase refers to buying, running, or using something.
It is expensive to buy but economical to run.
Which word describes an economy’s growth?
Economic is the usual choice in economic growth. It concerns the economy; it does not mean that the growth saves resources.
The report describes economic growth.
Take it into your day
Economic growth is about an economy. Economical use avoids waste.
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