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Compliment or Complement?

What Is the Difference between "Compliment" and "Complement"?

homesitemapA-Z confused words compliment or complement?
"Compliment" and "complement" are easy to confuse because both meanings relate to expressing positivity and they sound so similar (i.e., they are nearly homonyms).

Compliment

  • "To compliment" means to give praise. For example:
    • I would like to compliment you on your new haircut. correct tick
  • "A compliment" is an expression of praise. For example:
    • She gave me a nice compliment about my painting style. correct tick

Complement

  • "To complement" means to enhance. For example:
    • Your new haircut will complement your eyes. correct tick
  • "A complement" is an enhancement. For example:
    • My mother only uses mustard as a complement for mashed potato. correct tick
compliment or complement?

A Short Video Explaining Compliment and Complement

Here is a short video explaining the difference between "compliment" and "complement": video lesson

Are you a visual learner? Do you prefer video to text? Here is a list of all our grammar videos.

More about "Compliment"

As a noun, a "compliment" is an expression of praise. Particularly when used with "my," it is often seen in the plural form "compliments." For example:
  • Please give my compliments to the chef for such a wonderful meal. correct tick
  • When I said your eyes looked misty, I meant that as a compliment. correct tick
  • Tell the cook of this restaurant with my compliments that these are the very worst sandwiches in the whole world, and that, when I ask for a watercress sandwich, I do not mean a loaf with a field in the middle of it. correct tick (Playwright Oscar Wilde)
  • ("Compliments" means good wishes, regards, or respect.)

More about "Complement"

A "complement" is an enhancement. A "complement" enhances something else or goes well with it. For example:
  • Cranberry sauce is a complement for turkey. correct tick
  • The cashew nuts were an excellent complement for the soup. correct tick
  • (The cashew nuts went well with the soup.)
  • The drums were a perfect complement to their dancing style. correct tick
  • (The drums enhanced their dancing style.)
"Complement" can also mean composition or make-up. (In this meaning, it is often seen in the term "full complement," meaning "the whole number.") For example:
  • Do you have your full complement of men? correct tick

The Verbs "To Compliment" and "To Complement"

The examples above all relate to nouns. However, both words exist as verbs.
  • I would like to compliment the pilot on such a smooth landing. correct tick
  • (I would like to praise the pilot.)
  • The jade and silver cufflinks complement the green tie. correct tick
  • (The jade and silver cufflinks go well with the green tie.)
  • He has worked hard for many years to break my record. I can only complement him for such terrific dedication. wrong cross
  • (This should be "compliment" not "complement.")

Complimentary and Complementary

The adjectives "complimentary" and "complementary" also cause confusion.

Complimentary

"Complimentary" has two meanings. It means expressing praise or free. For example:
  • Her review was extremely complimentary. correct tick
  • (Here, "complimentary" means expressing praise.)
  • All drinks are complimentary. correct tick
  • (Here, "complimentary" means free.)

Complementary

"Complementary" is used to describe things that combine to enhance an outcome. For example:
  • Our skills were different but complementary. correct tick

Ways to Remember "Compliment" and "Complement"

  • "To compliment" and "to praise" both contain the letter i.
  • "To complement" and "to enhance" both contain two e's.
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This page was written by Craig Shrives.

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