What is the difference between “fine” and “good”?
What is the difference between fine and good? Please suggest the proper usage.
word-choice differences adjectives
edited Mar 30 '11 at 15:22
mmyers
5,45553551
asked Mar 30 '11 at 13:04
Roman YankovskyRoman Yankovsky
225259
add a comment |
What is the difference between fine and good? Please suggest the proper usage.
word-choice differences adjectives
edited Mar 30 '11 at 15:22
mmyers
5,45553551
asked Mar 30 '11 at 13:04
Roman YankovskyRoman Yankovsky
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
add a comment |
What is the difference between fine and good? Please suggest the proper usage.
word-choice differences adjectives
edited Mar 30 '11 at 15:22
mmyers
5,45553551
asked Mar 30 '11 at 13:04
Roman YankovskyRoman Yankovsky
225259
What is the difference between fine and good? Please suggest the proper usage.
word-choice differences adjectives
word-choice differences adjectives
edited Mar 30 '11 at 15:22
mmyers
5,45553551
asked Mar 30 '11 at 13:04
Roman YankovskyRoman Yankovsky
225259
edited Mar 30 '11 at 15:22
mmyers
5,45553551
asked Mar 30 '11 at 13:04
Roman YankovskyRoman Yankovsky
225259
edited Mar 30 '11 at 15:22
mmyers
5,45553551
edited Mar 30 '11 at 15:22
mmyers
5,45553551
edited Mar 30 '11 at 15:22
mmyers
5,45553551
5,45553551
asked Mar 30 '11 at 13:04
Roman YankovskyRoman Yankovsky
225259
asked Mar 30 '11 at 13:04
Roman YankovskyRoman Yankovsky
225259
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
add a comment |
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
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
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.
answered Mar 30 '11 at 13:05
RobustoRobusto
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
add a comment |
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.
answered Mar 30 '11 at 13:12
Colin FineColin Fine
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
|
show 3 more comments
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!
edited May 12 '15 at 17:01
Nicole
9,48973984
answered May 12 '15 at 16:39
OECLASSOECLASS
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
add a comment |
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
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.
answered Mar 30 '11 at 13:05
RobustoRobusto
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
add a comment |
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.
answered Mar 30 '11 at 13:05
RobustoRobusto
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
add a comment |
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.
answered Mar 30 '11 at 13:05
RobustoRobusto
128k30303517
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.
answered Mar 30 '11 at 13:05
RobustoRobusto
128k30303517
answered Mar 30 '11 at 13:05
RobustoRobusto
128k30303517
answered Mar 30 '11 at 13:05
RobustoRobusto
128k30303517
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
add a comment |
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
add a comment |
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.
answered Mar 30 '11 at 13:12
Colin FineColin Fine
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
|
show 3 more comments
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.
answered Mar 30 '11 at 13:12
Colin FineColin Fine
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
|
show 3 more comments
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.
answered Mar 30 '11 at 13:12
Colin FineColin Fine
64.3k173161
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.
answered Mar 30 '11 at 13:12
Colin FineColin Fine
64.3k173161
answered Mar 30 '11 at 13:12
Colin FineColin Fine
64.3k173161
answered Mar 30 '11 at 13:12
Colin FineColin Fine
64.3k173161
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
|
show 3 more comments
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
|
show 3 more comments
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!
edited May 12 '15 at 17:01
Nicole
9,48973984
answered May 12 '15 at 16:39
OECLASSOECLASS
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
add a comment |
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!
edited May 12 '15 at 17:01
Nicole
9,48973984
answered May 12 '15 at 16:39
OECLASSOECLASS
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
add a comment |
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!
edited May 12 '15 at 17:01
Nicole
9,48973984
answered May 12 '15 at 16:39
OECLASSOECLASS
1
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!
edited May 12 '15 at 17:01
Nicole
9,48973984
answered May 12 '15 at 16:39
OECLASSOECLASS
1
edited May 12 '15 at 17:01
Nicole
9,48973984
edited May 12 '15 at 17:01
Nicole
9,48973984
edited May 12 '15 at 17:01
Nicole
9,48973984
9,48973984
answered May 12 '15 at 16:39
OECLASSOECLASS
1
answered May 12 '15 at 16:39
OECLASSOECLASS
1
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
add a comment |
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
add a comment |
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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