Could anybody give me an easy way to know when I should use the "ic" ending (eg. politic, magic, electric) and when to use the "ical" ending (eg. political, mugical, electrical)? Thanks a lot.
I've been thinking about this for a few days, and I also looked around the web. I'm afraid there is no simple answer. Some pairs have different meanings (e.g. historic / historical and some do not (electric / electrical is a pairing which seems to have lost its distinction).
There is an idea out there that these words are back-formed adverbs. In others:
electric ( get the adverb >)
electrically (go back to the adjective >)
electrical (i.e. removing the "ly")
Good question. Sorry I couldn't give you a better answer.