Classic or classical?
According to Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, both 'classic' and 'classical' mean very typical in a sense. However, in Longman Dictionary of contemporary English and Oxford Collocations Dictionary only 'classic' collocates with 'symptoms'. So, are these two sentences perfectly correct?
1- She displayed the classic symptoms of depression.
2- She displayed the classical symptoms of depression.
If not, why? Is it a matter of collocations? Is it a matter of common usage?
Thank you in advance for your help.

Question

Answer

I think that 'classical' is a more positive, or noble word. That is probably why it would not collocate with something negative like symptoms. I think the dictionary is correct, so 1 is fine, but 2 is a little odd. Similarly you would not say ' a classical murder case'.

Answer

Both are possible, but nowadays we only use 1.

Oxford is an idealist in that it thinks learners sometimes read old writings.