Elementary 🎯 Pronunciation & Mistakes · #87 of 111

Mistake: Economic vs Economical

economic = of economy; economical = cheap.

Examples

  • Economic growth.

Key rules

  • Economic means relating to the economy: economic growth
  • Economical means not wasteful, using money or resources efficiently
  • The meanings are different

Common mistakes

  • This car is economic → This car is economical
  • economical growth → economic growth

Use cases

  • Describing cars and products
  • Business and policy writing
  • News about the economy
💡 Tip: Ask: is it about the economy (economic) or about saving money (economical)?
Practise this topic in the appPractise Elementary quiz
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Silent Letters

Some letters are written but not pronounced.

Pronouncing -ed Endings

/t/, /d/ or /id/ depending on the last sound.

Pronouncing -s Endings

/s/, /z/, /iz/.

Word Stress Basics

Stress one syllable in each word.

Sentence Stress

Stress content words.

Mistake: Make vs Do

make creates; do performs tasks.