The Guardian | March 15, 2023
"New study shows how traditional and modern medicines can complement each other in treating chronic conditions."
Complement vs. Compliment
The '30 Seconds' Difference At A Glance
A complement is something that completes or goes well with something else. A compliment is an expression of praise or admiration.
The red wine complements the beef perfectly, and the chef was pleased to receive a compliment on the pairing.
A Deeper Look
'Complement' is about things that go perfectly together or complete each other. When one thing makes another thing better or more complete, they complement each other.
The mint sauce complements the lamb perfectly.
Her skills complement mine - I'm good at design, she's good at coding.
'Compliment' is simply about saying nice things or praising someone. You can give a compliment (noun) or compliment someone (verb).
He received many compliments on his new haircut.
The customer complimented the chef on the delicious meal.
Common Usage Patterns
Complement
"These flavors complement each other"
"A complementary skill set"
"The perfect complement to any meal"
Compliment
"Pay someone a compliment"
"Complimentary tickets"
"She complimented his performance"
Key Patterns
Complement: often followed by "to" or used with "each other"
Compliment: often used with "on" or "about" when used as a verb
What Teachers Say
"Students often mix these up in business writing. I see 'complimentary' used wrongly all the time in phrases like 'our services are complimentary to yours' when they mean complementary. In business, 'complimentary' usually means free!"
-- Rachel, Toronto
"One helpful trick is remembering that 'complement' with an 'e' means completing something - both words have 'e's. But more importantly, notice how it's used in art and design contexts to describe colours and shapes working together."
-- David, Sydney
"I find students use 'complement' too narrowly. It's not just about things matching - it's about things enhancing each other. Wine complementing food doesn't just mean they go together, but that each makes the other better."
-- Lisa, Manchester
From The Headlines
The New York Times | August 8, 2011
"Warren Buffett compliments Federal Reserve's handling of financial crisis, saying they made 'exactly the right decisions'."
The Sydney Morning Herald | May 22, 2015
"Airlines announce complementary route structures following merger, expanding service to regional areas."
Test Yourself!
1. The chef _______ the wine selection that _______ the meal.
2. The theater offers _______ tickets to veterans, and their service _______ our community.
3. While her colleague's skills _______ hers perfectly, she never _______ others just to gain favor.
