Twitter
Email
RSSAesthetic or Aesthetical?
I noticed the following use of aesthetical in a comment on an English site:
Thus I use the incorrect case [object form instead of subject form] as my domain name for aesthetical reasons.
The correct word here is aesthetic. The writer is not concerned with the science of aesthetics, but with his personal aesthetic feelings about the beauty of words.
aesthetic adj. Of or pertaining to the appreciation or criticism of the beautiful.
One has aesthetic feelings, aesthetic reasons, aesthetic sensibilities.
Aesthetical, on the other hand, is used to modify things relating to the science of aesthetics. For example, Frederich Schiller wrote aesthetical essays. The professor enumerated the aesthetical values of photography.
aesthetic n. (commonly pl. aesthetics, as collect. sing.) The science which treats of the conditions of sensuous perception.
aesthetical adj. Of or relating to aesthetics; relating to the philosophy or theory of beauty. _ Often interchanged in use with aesthetic, but properly distinct; thus my aesthetical notions are the notions I have on the subject of aesthetics; my aesthetic faculties are those which exercise aesthetics. –OED
Got Your Free eBook?
- Subscribe to Daily Writing Tips and you will be able to download our free ebook: Basic English Grammar.
- You will also get all our grammar, spelling, punctuation and writing tips.
- The download link will go along with the first email (you might need to wait up to 24 hours).
A nice example of a writer thinking that the longer word is the more impressive – only to reveal their ignorance to the world.
Seems similar to “education” and “educational.”
EX: People in the education system may use educational games.