Another one of the most commonly confused words but said quite frequently in day-to-day life are complement and compliment. What makes it more confusing is that both words used to mean the same thing! Both words come from the Latin word ‘complēre’, which means ‘to complete’. However, complement now means something quite different to compliment.
Complement
Complement can be used as a noun and verb.
Pronunciation: kom-pli-ment
Definition: As a noun, complement means something or someone that enhances, completes, or perfects something. It also means a number or quantity of something.
Definition: As a verb, complement means to complete or add to something that makes it better.
Complements can also appear in mathematics, science, and economics.
Definition: In mathematics, a complement is an amount added to something to complete it. In geometry, two angles complement each other if the two angles add up to 90 degrees.
Definition: In science, the complement system is a system made up of proteins that react with one another to enhance the ability of antibodies to help fight infection. In this case, the proteins complement the antibodies to fight infection.
Definition: In economics, a complementary good is a good or service that adds value to another good. For example, milk complements cereal well.
Examples of Using Complement In A Sentence
As a noun
- A pair of gloves would complement the scarf.
- The light was a good complement to the dark room.
- The electrician has a full complement of tools in his bag.
As a verb
- A bracelet is often chosen to complement the dress.
- These shoes complement my outfit well.
- The herbs complement the other spices in the sauce nicely.
Synonyms: supplement, correlate, addition, accompany, capacity, adorn, enhance, decorate.
Antonyms: contrast, decrease.
Compliment
The word compliment can also be used as a noun or verb.
Pronunciation: kom-pli-ment
Definition: As a noun, compliment means a polite expression of admiration, affection, or praise.
Definition: As a verb, compliment means to express admiration, affection, or praise.
Examples of Using Compliment In A Sentence
As a noun
- I paid a compliment to my wife last week.
- He gave me a compliment on my cooking skills.
- If you like the person, you should give them a compliment.
As a verb
- I tend to compliment my partner a lot.
- People often compliment singers for their performances.
- He always pays a compliment to his father.
Synonyms: commendation, tribute, praise, homage, congratulations.
Antonyms: insult, affront, taunt, diminish, belittle, disparage.
The Different Tenses
Simple Present Tense:
He/She/It complements (compliments).
I complement (compliment).
You/We/They complement (compliment).
Present Continuous Tense:
He/She/It is complementing (complimenting).
I am complementing (complimenting).
You/We/They are complementing (complimenting).
Present Perfect Tense:
He/She/It has complemented (complimented).
I have complemented (complimented).
You/We/They have complemented (complimented).
Present Perfect Continuous Tense:
He/She/It has been complementing (complimenting).
I have been complementing (complimenting).
You/We/They have been complementing (complimenting).
Simple Past Tense:
He/She/It complemented (complimented).
I complemented (complimented).
You/We/They complemented (complimented).
Past Continuous Tense:
He/She/It was complementing (complimenting).
I was complementing (complimenting).
You/We/They are complementing (complimenting).
Past Perfect Tense:
He/She/It had complemented (complimented).
I had complemented (complimented).
You/We/They had complemented (complimented).
Past Perfect Continuous Tense:
He/She/It had been complementing (complimenting).
I had been complementing (complimenting).
You/We/They had been complementing (complimenting).
Simple Future Tense:
He/She/It will/shall complement (compliment).
I will/shall complement (compliment).
You/We/They will/shall complement (compliment).
Future Continuous Tense:
He/She/It will/shall be complementing (complimenting).
I will/shall be complementing (complimenting).
You/We/They will/shall be complementing (complimenting).
Future Perfect Tense:
He/She/It will/shall have complemented (complimented).
I will/shall have complemented (complimented).
You/We/They will/shall have complemented (complimented).
Future Perfect Continuous Tense:
He/She/It will/shall have been complementing (complimenting).
I will/shall have been complementing (complimenting).
You/We/They will/shall have been complementing (compliment).
Infinitive:
To complement (compliment).
Perfect participle:
Having complemented (complimented).
How To Remember Which One To Use
Many tend to struggle with which word to use. Here are a few tips and tricks that you can use to remember which word to use.
- To remember the word compliment, give yourself a compliment. For example, you could say, ‘I love how I smell.’ The use of the two ‘I’s in the sentence will make you remember that compliment also has the letter i in word, which is used for praise, and will therefore be used when praising people.
- To remember the word complement, think of the word Enhance is a synonym of complement and has two ‘e’s in the word. So, whenever you believe that you will enhance someone or something, you will also believe that you complement them. The words complete and perfect also have the letter e, which stems from the definition of the word complement.
Conclusion
Deciding on whether to use complement or compliment is and has always been tricky for a large number of people. Remember that both words can be used as a noun and verb, but complement means to enhance, complete, or perfect, while compliment means to show praise or appreciation to someone or something. For those that are familiar with complementary angles, the complement system, or complementary goods, remember that at least two things complement each other.
Our tips and tricks will help you remember the difference between the two and which one to use in a sentence.
Alkyone can spot the incorrect use of homophones instantly and provide further advice and examples on which is the correct word to be used. Our editors at Alkyone all have over 5 years of experience with the English language and hold postgraduate qualifications or equivalent from leading UK universities. If you are interested in any of our proofreading, copyediting, or formatting services, then please contact us for a FREE quote and we will be more than happy to assist you to produce the highest quality of work.
