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One means to complete or enhance something; the other is praise or a flattering remark.
Side-by-side comparison
Noun/verb. Something that completes or enhances another thing. The two parts fit perfectly together.
The wine was a perfect complement to the meal.
The blue scarf complements your eyes beautifully.
Their skills complement each other well.
Noun/verb. A polite expression of praise or admiration directed at someone.
He paid her a genuine compliment on her presentation.
She complimented the chef on the extraordinary flavor.
Accept the compliment gracefully and say thank you.
Common mistake
- •"The colors really compliment each other" is wrong: when two things go well together, the verb is "complement" (with E).
- •"Compliment" with I is the praise or kind remark.
Trick to remember it
- •"Complement" with E comes from "complete", it fills a gap.
- •"Compliment" with I is what you say when something Impresses you.
Quick rule
- •"Complement" (with E) = to complete or go well with.
- •"Compliment" (with I) = to praise or say something kind.
Did you know?
Both words come from Latin "complementum" (what completes), but they took different paths through medieval French before reaching English. "Compliment" passed through Italian "complimento" (courtesy gesture) before entering English in the 17th century. "With compliments" is the formal phrase printed on corporate gift cards. And "complimentary" (with I) has two meanings: "free of charge" and "flattering", so "complimentary breakfast" = free breakfast, and "complimentary review" = flattering review.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
Those shoes perfectly _____ your dress. They make the whole outfit look amazing.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
He _____ her on her cooking. He said it was the best pasta he had ever tasted.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
One means to receive or agree to something, the other means to exclude or not include.
'Advice' is the guidance you receive (noun); 'advise' is the act of giving that guidance (verb).
'Affect' is the verb meaning to influence something; 'effect' is the noun meaning result or consequence.
'Aisle' is the walkway between rows of seats or shelves; 'isle' is a small island.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy