Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2004

I just looked at the two lengthy definitions at m-w.com , and I think
they do a pretty heroic job of explaining when to use one and when the
other. But as it shows, there are times when it doesn't matter. Would
you be so good as to look at those pages and then maybe point out
exactly what still confuses you, if anything?

For me (US speaker) either of those is fine. There might be a teeny-tiny
bit more formality in including the "to."

yoni filted:

"Classical" means "early" or "prior to some important turning point"..."classic"
means "seminal" or "regarded *as* an important turning point"....r

In our last episode,
<e85a842c.0401061321.78cd8c2c@posting.google.com>,
the lovely and talented yoni
broadcast on alt.usage.english:

There is much overlap in the meanings of the words, and in many cases
one will do as well as another.  In general, "classic" means selected,
traditional, authentic, or is used to refer to anything from the past
that is especially favored by critics or collectors.

"Classical" tends to refer to particular historical periods or to
particular styles or themes in the arts or sciences.  If you do not
know for sure that you mean "classical," you probably mean "classic"
(or at least, you are safer with "classic").

For example, "classical teachings" means teachings from the
Greek or Roman classical periods (or teachings from a period
known as "classical" in a particular discipline, e.g. "classical
mechanics" (= Newtonian physics).  "Classic teachings" mean
merely teachings that are old and respected.  In most cases
"classical teachings" are "classic teachings," but not the other
way around.

"Classical" tends to have specialized meanings for specialists.
Most of us are happy to say Beethovan wrote classical music,
but sooner or later someone will sniff at us and say Beethovan's
music was Romantic.  Likewise, anything very old and Greek seems
classical to us, but scholars have fairly firm dates for the
classical period.

It doesn't matter.  The "to" belongs to the infinitive that follows,
not to "help."  If you use it, be sure you are using it with the
infinitive (and not the gerund, for example).