Will be doing = complete actions in future

[Grablevskij]

We also use will be doing to talk about complete actions in future:

• If you see Sally, can you ask her to phone me?
• Sure. I'll be seeing her this evening, so I'll tell her then.

• What time will your friends be arriving tomorrow?

In these examples will be -ing is similar to the present continuous for the future.

Source: English Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy (second Edition). Page 48.
I attach a small excerpt from the textbook.

The problem for me: is it really about complete actions? To the best of my ability I understand that it's just about plans. But Mr. Murphy italicised the word 'complete'. And by the way, I've consulted the fifth edition, the word 'complete' is still there.

Could you help me understand why these actions are considered complete?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

We also use will be doing to talk about complete actions in future:

• If you see Sally, can you ask her to phone me?
• Sure. I'll be seeing her this evening, so I'll tell her then.

• What time will your friends be arriving tomorrow?

In these examples will be -ing is similar to the present continuous for the future.

Source: English Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy (second Edition). Page 48.
I attach a small excerpt from the textbook.

The problem for me: is it really about complete actions? To the best of my ability I understand that it's just about plans.

Yes, plans or expectations. I agree.

But Mr. Murphy italisised the word 'complete'. And by the way, I've consulted the fifth edition, and the word 'complete' is still there.

Could you help me understand why these actions are considered complete?

I can't. They haven't happened yet, so it's odd that he calls them complete — or italicizes it.

Let's see if an actual teacher has an insight.

 

[probus]

I'm as puzzled as you and Charlie, Grab. None of the actions in the examples are complete, so I have no idea what Murphy is on about.

 

[jutfrank]

I don't like this at all. I really don't think explaining these actions as 'complete' is helpful. At least not without a hell of a lot of fleshing out. This is not the first time by any means that I've had learners puzzled by this.

I think you should forget about it and find another way of understanding the use of future continuous.

[cross-posted]