Blast from the Past: Complement vs. Compliment and Complementary vs. Complimentary
Today we're revisiting two homonyms that can cause a lot of confusion: compliment and complement and their cousins complimentary and complementary, with help from the cast of Saiyuki Gaiden.
traycer_ covered compliment/complement and whymzycal covered complimentary/complementary earlier.
Compliment can be both a noun and a verb. A compliment is "an expression of praise, commendation, or admiration; or a courteous greeting or good wishes," according to Dictionary.com. When you compliment someone, you're paying them a compliment.
"I'd like to compliment the brewmaster," Kenren said, knocking back another bottle of beer.
Tenpou squinted at the label. "Complimenting her would be a waste, I'm afraid. She died two centuries ago."
"How is this stuff still drinkable?"
Tenpou shrugged. "She was talented. Or you're not particularly fussy ... ."
Complimentary is derived from compliment and means either "given freely as a gift, or without charge" or "of the nature of, conveying, or expressing a compliment."
"It's complimentary," Tenpou said, as Kenren eyed the pile of fried food on the table. "Apparently we've spent enough that we're entitled to a few extras."
"Maybe it's 'cause we're so damn nice," Kenren said. "Souko can't go five minutes without complimenting the waitress."
Complement sounds similar but has a different meaning: "something that completes or makes perfect; or the quantity or amount that completes anything."
Kanzeon watched her nephew and the boy he'd taken as his charge. He'd even named the little one. Goku. It suited him.
Konzen likely thought otherwise, but the boy, headstrong and loud as he was, was her tight-laced nephew's perfect complement.
Complementary means "completing" or "forming a complement."
Kenren looked down at the feast of roasted vegetables and rice on the table. "You know what will make this complete? Sake."
Konzen looked down his nose at the bottle on the table. "You think sake's complementary to everything."
Kenren looked at him like he was stupid. "That's because it is."
If you can keep the distinction between compliment and complement clear in your mind, you should be able to use complimentary and complementary with ease.
Fortunately, traycer_ gave us a good way to tell these words apart in her earlier entry:
It can be difficult to remember which word to use as you work on your writing, but it may help to keep in mind that when you want to "complete" something, use complement and save the word compliment for "praise".
traycer_ covered compliment/complement and whymzycal covered complimentary/complementary earlier.
Compliment can be both a noun and a verb. A compliment is "an expression of praise, commendation, or admiration; or a courteous greeting or good wishes," according to Dictionary.com. When you compliment someone, you're paying them a compliment.
"I'd like to compliment the brewmaster," Kenren said, knocking back another bottle of beer.
Tenpou squinted at the label. "Complimenting her would be a waste, I'm afraid. She died two centuries ago."
"How is this stuff still drinkable?"
Tenpou shrugged. "She was talented. Or you're not particularly fussy ... ."
Complimentary is derived from compliment and means either "given freely as a gift, or without charge" or "of the nature of, conveying, or expressing a compliment."
"It's complimentary," Tenpou said, as Kenren eyed the pile of fried food on the table. "Apparently we've spent enough that we're entitled to a few extras."
"Maybe it's 'cause we're so damn nice," Kenren said. "Souko can't go five minutes without complimenting the waitress."
Complement sounds similar but has a different meaning: "something that completes or makes perfect; or the quantity or amount that completes anything."
Kanzeon watched her nephew and the boy he'd taken as his charge. He'd even named the little one. Goku. It suited him.
Konzen likely thought otherwise, but the boy, headstrong and loud as he was, was her tight-laced nephew's perfect complement.
Complementary means "completing" or "forming a complement."
Kenren looked down at the feast of roasted vegetables and rice on the table. "You know what will make this complete? Sake."
Konzen looked down his nose at the bottle on the table. "You think sake's complementary to everything."
Kenren looked at him like he was stupid. "That's because it is."
If you can keep the distinction between compliment and complement clear in your mind, you should be able to use complimentary and complementary with ease.
Fortunately, traycer_ gave us a good way to tell these words apart in her earlier entry:
It can be difficult to remember which word to use as you work on your writing, but it may help to keep in mind that when you want to "complete" something, use complement and save the word compliment for "praise".