No dictionary has ever been able to define the difference between
"complete" and "finished".
However, in a linguistic conference, held in London England , and
attended by some of the best linguistics in the world, Samsundar
Balgobin, a Guyanese was the clever winner.
His final challenge was this. Some say there is no difference between
"complete" and "finished". Please explain the difference in a way that is easy
to understand.
His response was:
When you marry the right woman, you are "complete".
If you marry the wrong woman, you are "finished".
And, when the right one catches you with the wrong one, you are
"completely finished".
Global Forums > General > Difference between Complete and Finished
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Difference between Complete and Finished
Apr 28, 2014 @ 08:50
The text you are quoting:
No dictionary has ever been able to define the difference between
"complete" and "finished".
However, in a linguistic conference, held in London England , and
attended by some of the best linguistics in the world, Samsundar
Balgobin, a Guyanese was the clever winner.
His final challenge was this. Some say there is no difference between
"complete" and "finished". Please explain the difference in a way that is easy
to understand.
His response was:
When you marry the right woman, you are "complete".
If you marry the wrong woman, you are "finished".
And, when the right one catches you with the wrong one, you are
"completely finished".
Jeffery SApr 28, 2014 @ 08:50
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Re: Difference between Complete and Finished
Post 1
Apr 28, 2014 @ 09:01
My one "two cents" as I am not an English native, but I do believe I have a good feel of the language: one (complete) is more formal than the other (finished) and would be used in a higher language register.
The text you are quoting:
My one "two cents" as I am not an English native, but I do believe I have a good feel of the language: one (complete) is more formal than the other (finished) and would be used in a higher language register.
hay_, Apr 28, 2014 @ 09:01
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Re: Difference between Complete and Finished
Post 2
Apr 28, 2014 @ 10:24
there are some nuances. for example you would not say "he completed his breakfast" but rather, "finished". i think the notion that the action will no longer continue would be the use of finish. but there are the customary uses of the verb. "did you finish your dinner"?
"when did she finish the washing?"
or, " did you complete the form ? ( in this case you would not use finish )
and the mind boggles......she went to finishing school to complete her education, which to this day remains incomplete!!...but she did finish!
go figure
The text you are quoting:
there are some nuances. for example you would not say "he completed his breakfast" but rather, "finished". i think the notion that the action will no longer continue would be the use of finish. but there are the customary uses of the verb. "did you finish your dinner"?
"when did she finish the washing?"
or, " did you complete the form ? ( in this case you would not use finish )
and the mind boggles......she went to finishing school to complete her education, which to this day remains incomplete!!...but she did finish!
go figure
epicure, Apr 28, 2014 @ 10:24
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Re: Difference between Complete and Finished
Post 3
Apr 28, 2014 @ 16:30
To me, "complete" has a sense of performing all the tasks, filling in all the blanks, putting together all the pieces, whereas "finished" means a *person* is done with a task, but the task may itself not be complete.
Consider a jigsaw puzzle, with 1000 pieces, none missing: if all 1000 pieces are put together, the person has finished and the puzzle is complete.
Consider a 1000-piece puzzle with one piece missing: if all 999 pieces are put together, the person has finished but the puzzle is not complete.
Or, "he completed the crossword puzzle in record time" vs. "he finished doing the crossword puzzle around 10:00pm, intending to work on it again in the morning."
The text you are quoting:
To me, "complete" has a sense of performing all the tasks, filling in all the blanks, putting together all the pieces, whereas "finished" means a *person* is done with a task, but the task may itself not be complete.
Consider a jigsaw puzzle, with 1000 pieces, none missing: if all 1000 pieces are put together, the person has finished and the puzzle is complete.
Consider a 1000-piece puzzle with one piece missing: if all 999 pieces are put together, the person has finished but the puzzle is not complete.
Or, "he completed the crossword puzzle in record time" vs. "he finished doing the crossword puzzle around 10:00pm, intending to work on it again in the morning."
Zonker, Apr 28, 2014 @ 16:30
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Re: Difference between Complete and Finished
Post 4
Apr 28, 2014 @ 23:36
Actually 
..... you should be comparing "complete" with "finish" or "completed" with "finished" to be "completely" pedantic.
Zonker's explanation above is completely perfect in its analogy (and not bad for a yank), but I could finish it by saying that it's not perfect in its completeness as he leaves some analogies somewhat unfinished.
Jeffery - what HAVE you started! (or should that be "commenced".....).
Waiting for Ritchie..... 
The text you are quoting:
Actually ..... you should be comparing "complete" with "finish" or "completed" with "finished" to be "completely" pedantic.
Zonker's explanation above is completely perfect in its analogy (and not bad for a yank), but I could finish it by saying that it's not perfect in its completeness as he leaves some analogies somewhat unfinished.
Jeffery - what HAVE you started! (or should that be "commenced".....).
Waiting for Ritchie.....
Carolyn C, Apr 28, 2014 @ 23:36
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Re: Difference between Complete and Finished
Post 5
Apr 29, 2014 @ 06:15
Actually ..... you should be comparing "complete" with "finish" or "completed" with "finished" to be "completely" pedantic.
Zonker's explanation above is completely perfect in its analogy (and not bad for a yank), but I could finish it by saying that it's not perfect in its completeness as he leaves some analogies somewhat unfinished.
Jeffery - what HAVE you started! (or should that be "commenced".....).
Waiting for Ritchie.....
Apr 28, 14 23:36
Too good for me !! I am done....(or is that also finished/completed??)
The text you are quoting:
Too good for me !! I am done....(or is that also finished/completed??)
Jeffery S, Apr 29, 2014 @ 06:15
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Re: Difference between Complete and Finished
Post 6
May 1, 2014 @ 08:51
All that follows is IMO. Complete and finish can be interchangeable in a number of circumstances. (S)he completed/finished the race. If the end result is zero/empty then one would use finish(ed) i.e. finished one's breakfast. Otherwise the use of finish(ed) is when no further action will be taken whereas complete(d) leaves an option to review. I've finished the questionnaire implies that I will hand the result in whereas when I've completed the questionnaire I may review it.
The text you are quoting:
All that follows is IMO. Complete and finish can be interchangeable in a number of circumstances. (S)he completed/finished the race. If the end result is zero/empty then one would use finish(ed) i.e. finished one's breakfast. Otherwise the use of finish(ed) is when no further action will be taken whereas complete(d) leaves an option to review. I've finished the questionnaire implies that I will hand the result in whereas when I've completed the questionnaire I may review it.
Don M, May 1, 2014 @ 08:51
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