Compliment vs. Complement

Many people never even realize that there are two spellings of the word compliment/complement. One means a nice word you give to someone to flatter or praise them. It can be used as both a noun and a verb. The other refers to two things that go well together. It can also be used as both a noun and a verb. Which is which?

• Jane complimented Joe on his new shirt.
  

  This breakfast is complimentary. Not complementary. Image: sxc.hu

• Jane and Joe are best friends. They complement one another well.

Here are two ways to remember the difference:

• Complement, with an E, refers to two things that go together, like a couple. Both words have the -ple in them.
• You can also think of a complement as something that completes something else. Both words start with the same spelling.
• When you compliment, with an I, someone, you are showing interest in them, also with an I.

There’s one other form of the word – complimentary, which refers to something you get for free, like a complimentary breakfast at a hotel. Basically, the word means “with compliments”. You can think of something that is complimentary as a physical compliment. Someone is doing (rather than saying) something nice for you when you get something for free – so you use the I instead of the E.

We all remember things different ways, so if you have another way of remember the difference between compliment and complement, leave a comment to help us all out!