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Question:
“I'm Angus, a big fan of VOA English from China. Could you please tell me the difference
among electric, electrical and electronic?” – Angus, China
Answer:
Dear Angus,
Thanks for writing to us. These days, many people are using electronic ways to communicate
with others, so this is a good question. Let us start with the word "electric," which comes from
the noun electricity. "Electric" is an adjective; that is, a word used to describe a noun. Its
simple meaning is "operated by electricity." Here are two examples.
You can also use "electric" to describe something exciting or full of energy, like a feeling or a
performance.
Electrical
Now, let's turn to the word "electrical." "Electrical" is also an adjective, but we mostly use it to
mean "related to electricity." For example, you might say:
Here, there is no electricity powering the noun "engineering," but “electrical engineering” is a
field related to electricity.
However, you cannot use the word "electrical" to describe a specific noun, like a car:
Finally, compare what we have just described to the word, "electronic." “Electronic” is an
adjective. It describes something that operates through the use of many small electrical parts,
such as microchips. Here is how one might use the word in a sentence:
You may have an electric toothbrush now, but when you get an electronic toothbrush, it might
tell you exactly when to stop using it.
Jill Robbins wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.
Editor's note: This article was revised on March 23, 2020 to clarify the meaning of electronic.
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microchip – n. a group of tiny electronic circuits that work together on a very small piece of
hard material (such as silicon)
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