What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
chronological
Example
The teacher asked the students to put the events in chronological order. [chronological: adjective]
Example
The timeline shows the historical events in a chronological sequence. [chronological: noun]
historical
Example
The museum has a collection of historical artifacts from different time periods. [historical: adjective]
Example
She is studying historical events for her research paper. [historical: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Historical is more commonly used than chronological in everyday language. Historical is a versatile word that can be used to describe events, people, or things from the past, while chronological is more specific and often used in academic or technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between chronological and historical?
Both chronological and historical can be used in formal and informal contexts. However, historical may carry a slightly more formal tone due to its association with the study of history.
