What is the difference between “fine” and “good”?












8















What is the difference between fine and good? Please suggest the proper usage.






word-choice differences adjectives







share|improve this question




















  • 1





    Perhaps there is a specific usage that you are interested in?

    – z7sg Ѫ
    Mar 30 '11 at 13:07











  • fine idea vs good idea

    – Roman Yankovsky
    Mar 30 '11 at 13:10
















8















What is the difference between fine and good? Please suggest the proper usage.






word-choice differences adjectives







share|improve this question




















  • 1





    Perhaps there is a specific usage that you are interested in?

    – z7sg Ѫ
    Mar 30 '11 at 13:07











  • fine idea vs good idea

    – Roman Yankovsky
    Mar 30 '11 at 13:10














8












8








8


1






What is the difference between fine and good? Please suggest the proper usage.






word-choice differences adjectives







share|improve this question
















What is the difference between fine and good? Please suggest the proper usage.






word-choice differences adjectives




word-choice differences adjectives






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Mar 30 '11 at 15:22









mmyers

5,45553551




5,45553551










asked Mar 30 '11 at 13:04









Roman YankovskyRoman Yankovsky

225259




225259








  • 1





    Perhaps there is a specific usage that you are interested in?

    – z7sg Ѫ
    Mar 30 '11 at 13:07











  • fine idea vs good idea

    – Roman Yankovsky
    Mar 30 '11 at 13:10














  • 1





    Perhaps there is a specific usage that you are interested in?

    – z7sg Ѫ
    Mar 30 '11 at 13:07











  • fine idea vs good idea

    – Roman Yankovsky
    Mar 30 '11 at 13:10








1




1





Perhaps there is a specific usage that you are interested in?

– z7sg Ѫ
Mar 30 '11 at 13:07





Perhaps there is a specific usage that you are interested in?

– z7sg Ѫ
Mar 30 '11 at 13:07













fine idea vs good idea

– Roman Yankovsky
Mar 30 '11 at 13:10





fine idea vs good idea

– Roman Yankovsky
Mar 30 '11 at 13:10










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















14














Something that is fine is better than something that is merely good:




fine 1. Of superior quality, skill, or appearance: a fine day; a fine writer.



good 1. Being positive or desirable in nature; not bad or poor: a good experience; good news from the hospital.




As you see, good can simply mean "not bad"; but fine means superior, excellent.



See definitions here and here.






share|improve this answer
























  • For example, when describing the condition of a (second-hand) book, fine is better than very good which is better than good.

    – Gilles
    Mar 30 '11 at 21:37



















9














Robusto's answer is correct when they are being used attributively, to describe something in particular.



But in idiomatic usage on their own, there is really nothing to choose between them:



"That's fine" means the same as "That's good" or "That's OK".



"Fine" also has a subsidiary meaning of "healthy, well", so "I feel fine" is appropriate when somebody has expressed a concern about your health. "I feel good" would not be idiomatic there, at least in the UK.






share|improve this answer



















  • 4





    Ironically "I feel good" has a stronger connotation, at least in my experience (US). "I feel great" > "I feel good" > "I feel fine"

    – Davy8
    Mar 30 '11 at 15:03











  • You hear "I am doing good" for instance here in the states all the time (where of course "doing well" or "doing fine" is more correct....)

    – Joseph Weissman
    Mar 30 '11 at 17:42






  • 1





    I would take "fine" one step further and say it can actually be perceived as a negative response. For example: "Hows the food?" - "It's fine." That's not taken well, but to say "It's good." is a real complement. "That's fine" is also a common response from someone who is giving something up or on the short-end of a compromise: "You drive the kids all over the place and I'll watch TV, OK?" - "Fine." It can go on and on (at least in the US)

    – Corey Coogan
    Mar 30 '11 at 21:13






  • 1





    @Roman: as an adjective preceding a noun, "fine" is rather rare (except in set expressions like "fine wine" and "fine arts"), so if it is used it is generally exceptional, and stronger than "good". As a predicate or adverb ("I'm fine", "I feel fine", "That's fine") it is no stronger than "good" and often weaker.

    – Colin Fine
    Mar 31 '11 at 10:33






  • 1





    @Roman: yes, I would say "a fine idea" is better - stands out more - than "a good idea".

    – Colin Fine
    Mar 31 '11 at 15:28



















-3














Fine is the same as good! There is no difference! So if your teacher says your essay is fine, you should have 100 percent right to get an A+ on it!






share|improve this answer


























  • There is some nuance of difference between them. Fine can be used to mean average in some contexts. If you suggest we do something and I say "Okay, fine," that doesn't necessarily mean I think it's a good idea; it just means I don't have any objections to it.

    – Nicole
    May 12 '15 at 17:02













Your Answer








StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "97"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});

function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});


}
});














draft saved

draft discarded


















StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f18627%2fwhat-is-the-difference-between-fine-and-good%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);

Post as a guest















Required, but never shown

























3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes








3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









14














Something that is fine is better than something that is merely good:




fine 1. Of superior quality, skill, or appearance: a fine day; a fine writer.



good 1. Being positive or desirable in nature; not bad or poor: a good experience; good news from the hospital.




As you see, good can simply mean "not bad"; but fine means superior, excellent.



See definitions here and here.






share|improve this answer
























  • For example, when describing the condition of a (second-hand) book, fine is better than very good which is better than good.

    – Gilles
    Mar 30 '11 at 21:37
















14














Something that is fine is better than something that is merely good:




fine 1. Of superior quality, skill, or appearance: a fine day; a fine writer.



good 1. Being positive or desirable in nature; not bad or poor: a good experience; good news from the hospital.




As you see, good can simply mean "not bad"; but fine means superior, excellent.



See definitions here and here.






share|improve this answer
























  • For example, when describing the condition of a (second-hand) book, fine is better than very good which is better than good.

    – Gilles
    Mar 30 '11 at 21:37














14












14








14







Something that is fine is better than something that is merely good:




fine 1. Of superior quality, skill, or appearance: a fine day; a fine writer.



good 1. Being positive or desirable in nature; not bad or poor: a good experience; good news from the hospital.




As you see, good can simply mean "not bad"; but fine means superior, excellent.



See definitions here and here.






share|improve this answer













Something that is fine is better than something that is merely good:




fine 1. Of superior quality, skill, or appearance: a fine day; a fine writer.



good 1. Being positive or desirable in nature; not bad or poor: a good experience; good news from the hospital.




As you see, good can simply mean "not bad"; but fine means superior, excellent.



See definitions here and here.







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered Mar 30 '11 at 13:05









RobustoRobusto

128k30303517




128k30303517













  • For example, when describing the condition of a (second-hand) book, fine is better than very good which is better than good.

    – Gilles
    Mar 30 '11 at 21:37



















  • For example, when describing the condition of a (second-hand) book, fine is better than very good which is better than good.

    – Gilles
    Mar 30 '11 at 21:37

















For example, when describing the condition of a (second-hand) book, fine is better than very good which is better than good.

– Gilles
Mar 30 '11 at 21:37





For example, when describing the condition of a (second-hand) book, fine is better than very good which is better than good.

– Gilles
Mar 30 '11 at 21:37













9














Robusto's answer is correct when they are being used attributively, to describe something in particular.



But in idiomatic usage on their own, there is really nothing to choose between them:



"That's fine" means the same as "That's good" or "That's OK".



"Fine" also has a subsidiary meaning of "healthy, well", so "I feel fine" is appropriate when somebody has expressed a concern about your health. "I feel good" would not be idiomatic there, at least in the UK.






share|improve this answer



















  • 4





    Ironically "I feel good" has a stronger connotation, at least in my experience (US). "I feel great" > "I feel good" > "I feel fine"

    – Davy8
    Mar 30 '11 at 15:03











  • You hear "I am doing good" for instance here in the states all the time (where of course "doing well" or "doing fine" is more correct....)

    – Joseph Weissman
    Mar 30 '11 at 17:42






  • 1





    I would take "fine" one step further and say it can actually be perceived as a negative response. For example: "Hows the food?" - "It's fine." That's not taken well, but to say "It's good." is a real complement. "That's fine" is also a common response from someone who is giving something up or on the short-end of a compromise: "You drive the kids all over the place and I'll watch TV, OK?" - "Fine." It can go on and on (at least in the US)

    – Corey Coogan
    Mar 30 '11 at 21:13






  • 1





    @Roman: as an adjective preceding a noun, "fine" is rather rare (except in set expressions like "fine wine" and "fine arts"), so if it is used it is generally exceptional, and stronger than "good". As a predicate or adverb ("I'm fine", "I feel fine", "That's fine") it is no stronger than "good" and often weaker.

    – Colin Fine
    Mar 31 '11 at 10:33






  • 1





    @Roman: yes, I would say "a fine idea" is better - stands out more - than "a good idea".

    – Colin Fine
    Mar 31 '11 at 15:28
















9














Robusto's answer is correct when they are being used attributively, to describe something in particular.



But in idiomatic usage on their own, there is really nothing to choose between them:



"That's fine" means the same as "That's good" or "That's OK".



"Fine" also has a subsidiary meaning of "healthy, well", so "I feel fine" is appropriate when somebody has expressed a concern about your health. "I feel good" would not be idiomatic there, at least in the UK.






share|improve this answer



















  • 4





    Ironically "I feel good" has a stronger connotation, at least in my experience (US). "I feel great" > "I feel good" > "I feel fine"

    – Davy8
    Mar 30 '11 at 15:03











  • You hear "I am doing good" for instance here in the states all the time (where of course "doing well" or "doing fine" is more correct....)

    – Joseph Weissman
    Mar 30 '11 at 17:42






  • 1





    I would take "fine" one step further and say it can actually be perceived as a negative response. For example: "Hows the food?" - "It's fine." That's not taken well, but to say "It's good." is a real complement. "That's fine" is also a common response from someone who is giving something up or on the short-end of a compromise: "You drive the kids all over the place and I'll watch TV, OK?" - "Fine." It can go on and on (at least in the US)

    – Corey Coogan
    Mar 30 '11 at 21:13






  • 1





    @Roman: as an adjective preceding a noun, "fine" is rather rare (except in set expressions like "fine wine" and "fine arts"), so if it is used it is generally exceptional, and stronger than "good". As a predicate or adverb ("I'm fine", "I feel fine", "That's fine") it is no stronger than "good" and often weaker.

    – Colin Fine
    Mar 31 '11 at 10:33






  • 1





    @Roman: yes, I would say "a fine idea" is better - stands out more - than "a good idea".

    – Colin Fine
    Mar 31 '11 at 15:28














9












9








9







Robusto's answer is correct when they are being used attributively, to describe something in particular.



But in idiomatic usage on their own, there is really nothing to choose between them:



"That's fine" means the same as "That's good" or "That's OK".



"Fine" also has a subsidiary meaning of "healthy, well", so "I feel fine" is appropriate when somebody has expressed a concern about your health. "I feel good" would not be idiomatic there, at least in the UK.






share|improve this answer













Robusto's answer is correct when they are being used attributively, to describe something in particular.



But in idiomatic usage on their own, there is really nothing to choose between them:



"That's fine" means the same as "That's good" or "That's OK".



"Fine" also has a subsidiary meaning of "healthy, well", so "I feel fine" is appropriate when somebody has expressed a concern about your health. "I feel good" would not be idiomatic there, at least in the UK.







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered Mar 30 '11 at 13:12









Colin FineColin Fine

64.3k173161




64.3k173161








  • 4





    Ironically "I feel good" has a stronger connotation, at least in my experience (US). "I feel great" > "I feel good" > "I feel fine"

    – Davy8
    Mar 30 '11 at 15:03











  • You hear "I am doing good" for instance here in the states all the time (where of course "doing well" or "doing fine" is more correct....)

    – Joseph Weissman
    Mar 30 '11 at 17:42






  • 1





    I would take "fine" one step further and say it can actually be perceived as a negative response. For example: "Hows the food?" - "It's fine." That's not taken well, but to say "It's good." is a real complement. "That's fine" is also a common response from someone who is giving something up or on the short-end of a compromise: "You drive the kids all over the place and I'll watch TV, OK?" - "Fine." It can go on and on (at least in the US)

    – Corey Coogan
    Mar 30 '11 at 21:13






  • 1





    @Roman: as an adjective preceding a noun, "fine" is rather rare (except in set expressions like "fine wine" and "fine arts"), so if it is used it is generally exceptional, and stronger than "good". As a predicate or adverb ("I'm fine", "I feel fine", "That's fine") it is no stronger than "good" and often weaker.

    – Colin Fine
    Mar 31 '11 at 10:33






  • 1





    @Roman: yes, I would say "a fine idea" is better - stands out more - than "a good idea".

    – Colin Fine
    Mar 31 '11 at 15:28














  • 4





    Ironically "I feel good" has a stronger connotation, at least in my experience (US). "I feel great" > "I feel good" > "I feel fine"

    – Davy8
    Mar 30 '11 at 15:03











  • You hear "I am doing good" for instance here in the states all the time (where of course "doing well" or "doing fine" is more correct....)

    – Joseph Weissman
    Mar 30 '11 at 17:42






  • 1





    I would take "fine" one step further and say it can actually be perceived as a negative response. For example: "Hows the food?" - "It's fine." That's not taken well, but to say "It's good." is a real complement. "That's fine" is also a common response from someone who is giving something up or on the short-end of a compromise: "You drive the kids all over the place and I'll watch TV, OK?" - "Fine." It can go on and on (at least in the US)

    – Corey Coogan
    Mar 30 '11 at 21:13






  • 1





    @Roman: as an adjective preceding a noun, "fine" is rather rare (except in set expressions like "fine wine" and "fine arts"), so if it is used it is generally exceptional, and stronger than "good". As a predicate or adverb ("I'm fine", "I feel fine", "That's fine") it is no stronger than "good" and often weaker.

    – Colin Fine
    Mar 31 '11 at 10:33






  • 1





    @Roman: yes, I would say "a fine idea" is better - stands out more - than "a good idea".

    – Colin Fine
    Mar 31 '11 at 15:28








4




4





Ironically "I feel good" has a stronger connotation, at least in my experience (US). "I feel great" > "I feel good" > "I feel fine"

– Davy8
Mar 30 '11 at 15:03





Ironically "I feel good" has a stronger connotation, at least in my experience (US). "I feel great" > "I feel good" > "I feel fine"

– Davy8
Mar 30 '11 at 15:03













You hear "I am doing good" for instance here in the states all the time (where of course "doing well" or "doing fine" is more correct....)

– Joseph Weissman
Mar 30 '11 at 17:42





You hear "I am doing good" for instance here in the states all the time (where of course "doing well" or "doing fine" is more correct....)

– Joseph Weissman
Mar 30 '11 at 17:42




1




1





I would take "fine" one step further and say it can actually be perceived as a negative response. For example: "Hows the food?" - "It's fine." That's not taken well, but to say "It's good." is a real complement. "That's fine" is also a common response from someone who is giving something up or on the short-end of a compromise: "You drive the kids all over the place and I'll watch TV, OK?" - "Fine." It can go on and on (at least in the US)

– Corey Coogan
Mar 30 '11 at 21:13





I would take "fine" one step further and say it can actually be perceived as a negative response. For example: "Hows the food?" - "It's fine." That's not taken well, but to say "It's good." is a real complement. "That's fine" is also a common response from someone who is giving something up or on the short-end of a compromise: "You drive the kids all over the place and I'll watch TV, OK?" - "Fine." It can go on and on (at least in the US)

– Corey Coogan
Mar 30 '11 at 21:13




1




1





@Roman: as an adjective preceding a noun, "fine" is rather rare (except in set expressions like "fine wine" and "fine arts"), so if it is used it is generally exceptional, and stronger than "good". As a predicate or adverb ("I'm fine", "I feel fine", "That's fine") it is no stronger than "good" and often weaker.

– Colin Fine
Mar 31 '11 at 10:33





@Roman: as an adjective preceding a noun, "fine" is rather rare (except in set expressions like "fine wine" and "fine arts"), so if it is used it is generally exceptional, and stronger than "good". As a predicate or adverb ("I'm fine", "I feel fine", "That's fine") it is no stronger than "good" and often weaker.

– Colin Fine
Mar 31 '11 at 10:33




1




1





@Roman: yes, I would say "a fine idea" is better - stands out more - than "a good idea".

– Colin Fine
Mar 31 '11 at 15:28





@Roman: yes, I would say "a fine idea" is better - stands out more - than "a good idea".

– Colin Fine
Mar 31 '11 at 15:28











-3














Fine is the same as good! There is no difference! So if your teacher says your essay is fine, you should have 100 percent right to get an A+ on it!






share|improve this answer


























  • There is some nuance of difference between them. Fine can be used to mean average in some contexts. If you suggest we do something and I say "Okay, fine," that doesn't necessarily mean I think it's a good idea; it just means I don't have any objections to it.

    – Nicole
    May 12 '15 at 17:02


















-3














Fine is the same as good! There is no difference! So if your teacher says your essay is fine, you should have 100 percent right to get an A+ on it!






share|improve this answer


























  • There is some nuance of difference between them. Fine can be used to mean average in some contexts. If you suggest we do something and I say "Okay, fine," that doesn't necessarily mean I think it's a good idea; it just means I don't have any objections to it.

    – Nicole
    May 12 '15 at 17:02
















-3












-3








-3







Fine is the same as good! There is no difference! So if your teacher says your essay is fine, you should have 100 percent right to get an A+ on it!






share|improve this answer















Fine is the same as good! There is no difference! So if your teacher says your essay is fine, you should have 100 percent right to get an A+ on it!







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited May 12 '15 at 17:01









Nicole

9,48973984




9,48973984










answered May 12 '15 at 16:39









OECLASSOECLASS

1




1













  • There is some nuance of difference between them. Fine can be used to mean average in some contexts. If you suggest we do something and I say "Okay, fine," that doesn't necessarily mean I think it's a good idea; it just means I don't have any objections to it.

    – Nicole
    May 12 '15 at 17:02





















  • There is some nuance of difference between them. Fine can be used to mean average in some contexts. If you suggest we do something and I say "Okay, fine," that doesn't necessarily mean I think it's a good idea; it just means I don't have any objections to it.

    – Nicole
    May 12 '15 at 17:02



















There is some nuance of difference between them. Fine can be used to mean average in some contexts. If you suggest we do something and I say "Okay, fine," that doesn't necessarily mean I think it's a good idea; it just means I don't have any objections to it.

– Nicole
May 12 '15 at 17:02







There is some nuance of difference between them. Fine can be used to mean average in some contexts. If you suggest we do something and I say "Okay, fine," that doesn't necessarily mean I think it's a good idea; it just means I don't have any objections to it.

– Nicole
May 12 '15 at 17:02




















draft saved

draft discarded




















































Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange!


  • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

But avoid …



  • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

  • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




draft saved


draft discarded














StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f18627%2fwhat-is-the-difference-between-fine-and-good%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);

Post as a guest















Required, but never shown





















































Required, but never shown














Required, but never shown












Required, but never shown







Required, but never shown

































Required, but never shown














Required, but never shown












Required, but never shown







Required, but never shown







-

Popular posts from this blog

"Incorrect syntax near the keyword 'ON'. (on update cascade, on delete cascade,)

Image
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty{ height:90px;width:728px;box-sizing:border-box; } 2 total noob sorry any help greatly appreciated. I keep getting this "Incorrect syntax near the keyword 'ON'." heres my codes code one CREATE TABLE supplier ( supplierID INT PRIMARY KEY, ISBN INT FOREIGN KEY REFERENCES book(ISBN), price DECIMAL (5,2), ON UPDATE CASCADE, ON DELETE CASCADE, ); code two CREATE TABLE orders ( orderID INT PRIMARY KEY, customerID INT FOREIGN KEY REFERENCES customer(customerID), ISBN INT FOREIGN KEY REFERENCES book(ISBN), orderDate date, ON UPDATE CASCADE, ON DELETE CASCADE, ); Ive run out of stuff to try other than dumbing it down to uselessness. ...
Read more

Alcedinidae

Image
Alcedinidae Martin-pêcheur à dos bleu ( Alcedo azurea ) Classification (COI) Règne Animalia Embranchement Chordata Sous-embr. Vertebrata Classe Aves Ordre Coraciiformes Famille Alcedinidae Rafinesque, 1815 Les Alcédinidés ou Alcedinidae forment une famille d'oiseaux plus connus sous les noms de martins-pêcheurs et martins-chasseurs. Sommaire 1 Description 2 Répartition et habitat 3 Systématique 3.1 Liste alphabétique des genres 3.2 Liste des espèces 4 Chez les Anciens : l'alcyon 4.1 Étymologie (Littré) 4.2 Oiseau « fabuleux » ? 5 Notes 6 Articles connexes 7 Liens externes 7.1 Bibliographie Description | Ce sont des oiseaux compacts de taille petite à moyenne (10 à 46 cm), au bec droit et long, en forme de poignard. Leurs pattes sont courtes, et ils portent un plumage aux couleurs vives. Répartition et habitat | Cosmopolites, ils fréquentent surtout ...
Read more

Origin of the phrase “under your belt”?

Image
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty{ margin-bottom:0; } 17 1 Today, I found myself discussing what students should have "under their belts" during a lecture, and I wondered to myself if there was some inappropriate undertone here that I might be unaware of. Question : What is the origin of the phrase "under your belt"? A google search revealed some webpages (e.g. [1]) that assert its origin is related to consumption of food -- once a meal has been eaten, it's under your belt (which is a relief). However, with such websites, I have no way to determine fact from "random guy on the internet making stuff up". etymology idioms ...
Read more