Wondering whether to use ‘compliment’ or ‘complement’ in a sentence? Learn how to tell them apart and you’ll never be confused again.
Compliment and complement are two words that seem to perplex people. Maybe it’s because they’re homophones: they sound the same when you say them aloud, but they have different meanings.
The English language can be difficult to navigate for even the most experienced writers, so don’t worry if you’re unsure about how to use compliment and complement in a sentence. Let’s take a look at the definitions for each word, and then explore some examples to deepen your understanding.
Compliment
Compliment can be used as a noun or a verb. Let’s consider its noun form first.
Remember that nouns are things (physical or abstract). As a noun, a compliment is a polite remark – a nice thing that one person says to another.
Example 1: Diana received several compliments about her new hairstyle.
Example 2: John’s personal trainer paid him a huge compliment today.
Example 3: ‘My compliments on your chocolate cake, Anne. It’s yummy!’
Try this trick to help you remember…
Now, let’s compare the verb form of compliment…
Remember what your teachers used to say about verbs? They’re doing words. They refer to actions. In verb form, compliment refers to the action of congratulating or praising someone for something.
Example 1: Michael complimented Josephine on her new car.
Example 2: The musicians were complimented for their stellar performance at the concert.
Example 3: My husband flatters me by complimenting my cooking skills.
Complement
Like compliment above, complement can be used as a noun or a verb. Let’s take a closer look at its noun form first…
Example 1: This red wine was the perfect complement to the paella. (In this scenario, the wine is the thing that emphasises the experience of the meal.)
Example 2: An anti-wrinkle cream would be an excellent complement to Beth’s existing beauty regimen. (In this scenario, the anti-wrinkle cream is the thing that would enhance Beth’s current routine.)
Example 3: Helen is planning a weekly podcast as a complement to her YouTube series on gardening. (In this scenario, Helen’s podcast is the thing that’s going to enrich her existing YouTube series.)
Picture this mnemonic when you need to recall these examples…
Let’s move on and see how complement is used as a verb…
Example 1: Stylish cufflinks complement a tuxedo.
Example 2: The weekend charity drive will complement our other community initiatives.
Example 3: The boxer is working on his strength to complement his speed and stamina.
Happy writing, everyone! ♦ JP
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