The Difference Between Communism And Socialism
Socialism and Communism both aim to create a more equal society. The biggest difference is that socialism is compatible with democracy, while communism depends on an authoritarian state.
This is a very reductionist comparition: communism is not only Marxism-Leninism, and socialism is not (modern) social-democracy.
The Encyclopedia Britannica do a better (but incomplet) work:
Exactly how communism differs from socialism has long been a matter of debate. Karl Marx used the terms interchangeably. For many, however, the difference can be seen in the two phases of communism as outlined by Marx. The first is a transitional system in which the working class controls the government and economy yet still pays people according to how long, hard, or well they work. Capitalism and private property exist, though to a limited degree. This phase is widely regarded as socialism. However, in Marx’s fully realized communism, society has no class divisions or government or personal property. The production and distribution of goods is based upon the principle “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.”
Or the wikipedia definitions:
Socialism is an economic and political philosophy encompassing diverse economic and social systems characterised by social ownership of the means of production, as opposed to private ownership.
Communism is a sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideology within the socialist movement, whose goal is the creation of a communist society, a socioeconomic order centered around common ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange that allocates products to everyone in society based on need.
I'd like to think that they author used the most popular ideas of communism. I read the Britannica article before I posted, but did not read the Wikipedia one. However I did read about the author of the article that I link:
Saddique Ansari - A Level Economics lecturer since 2003. Completed MBA in 2005, currently serving Bloomfield Hall Upper School Multan. Regularly producing pieces for Economics Online and reviewing content strategy and production.
If he avoided the sub-sections of communism, I'm going to give him the benefit-of-the-doubt that it was for a good reason.
HOWEVER, I'm trying to structure my community for different views and opinions to meet and hopefully find some common ground to agree on. The only caveat is that it's understood that there will be difference of opinion and express it respectfully like you did