difference between "end" and "ending"

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi, teachers

can you tell me the difference between " end " and " ending"?

The film has a happy end ending. which word is correct there?

Thanks

2

Welcome Purplelavender!

‘Ending’ is more specific perhaps and usually refers to the way a story, film, etc. finishes:

‘The film has a happy ending’ is what I’d say.

3

There’s a brand of toilet paper in Germany called “Happy End”… 8)

[size=92](Referring to that particular brand of German toilet paper is probably the only context in which I’ve ever uttered the words ‘happy’ and ‘end’ together.)[/size] :wink:
[color=white].

4

Hi,

To raise the tone a little - the expression can be heard in a priest’s prayer referring to life after death as in:’ A happy end to all our suffering’

Alan

5

Don’t you find the name of that German TP humorous, Alan?

6

Well, I for one did, but am still trying to figure out what the ‘end’ refers to (unless it has something to do with constipation)!

Alan’s remark also surprised me, since I was still chuckling from your post when I read his.

7

Hi Conchita

I’ve never researched who came up with the name or why, but it is a typical mistake for Germans to refer to the end of a story as a “happy end” instead of a “happy ending”.

As a native speaker of English, however, I immediately understood the word ‘end’ to mean ‘rear end’ (i.e. buttocks) the first time I saw the name of that German toilet paper – and I can’t help thinking that this meaning was also intended. :lol:

8

Don’t get me wrong - I haven’t lost my sense of humour! It reminds me when on my first visit to Germany in 1955 I met a very earnest German family and as a special treat I was allowed to listen to a BFN (british Forces Network) repeat of the Goon Show, through which they sat without a twitch or a twitter. I just wanted to curl up and die.

A