The Quick Rule
- Complement (with an e): something that completes, enhances, or goes well with something else.
- Compliment (with an i): an expression of praise, admiration, or flattery.
Complement: To Complete or Enhance
Complement comes from the Latin complementum, meaning something that fills up or completes. It refers to things that work well together, make each other better, or complete a whole.
As a noun:
- The wine is a perfect complement to the meal. (it enhances the meal)
- The data serves as a useful complement to the qualitative findings.
- The team has a full complement of staff for the project. (a complete set)
- A and B are complements — together they form the complete range of options.
As a verb:
- Her attention to detail complements his strategic thinking.
- The new feature complements the existing product suite.
- The colors in the design complement each other well.
As an adjective (complementary):
- The two approaches are complementary — each covers what the other misses.
- Complementary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel.
- The report and the presentation provide complementary perspectives.
Compliment: Praise or Flattery
Compliment comes from the Spanish cumplimiento, meaning fulfillment of a courtesy. It refers to an expression of praise, admiration, or formal greeting.
As a noun:
- She received a compliment on her presentation.
- He paid her the highest compliment by citing her work in his paper.
- The chef sent the dessert with compliments. (as a courtesy)
- Please pass along my compliments to the team.
As a verb:
- The manager complimented the team on their efficiency.
- She complimented him on his clear writing.
As an adjective (complimentary):
- The review was highly complimentary. (full of praise)
- Guests received complimentary breakfast with their stay. (provided free, as a courtesy)
Note that complimentary has two related but distinct meanings: (1) expressing admiration or praise, and (2) provided free of charge as a courtesy. Both senses trace back to the "fulfillment of courtesy" origin.
The Adjective Forms: Complementary vs. Complimentary
This is where the confusion most often appears in professional writing. The two adjectives are spelled differently and mean different things:
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| complementary | completing or enhancing each other | The two studies use complementary methodologies. |
| complimentary | expressing praise; provided free | The review was complimentary. / Complimentary drinks were served. |
A common error is writing "complimentary colors" when the intended meaning is colors that enhance each other. The correct term for colors that are opposite on the color wheel is "complementary colors." Complimentary colors would be colors that give you a compliment — which does not make sense.
Common Errors in Context
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| The sauce compliments the dish. | The sauce complements the dish. (enhances it) |
| The two skills are complimentary. | The two skills are complementary. (they work well together) |
| She received a complement on her work. | She received a compliment on her work. (praise) |
| The hotel provided complimentary services. | Correct — complimentary means provided free as a courtesy |
| Please accept this with our complements. | Please accept this with our compliments. |
Memory Tricks
Two mnemonics help distinguish the spellings:
- complEment — the e stands for "enhance" or "entire" (makes something complete or whole)
- complIment — the i stands for "I like you" or "I admire" (a positive expression about someone)
Alternatively: a compliment is nice — both compliment and nice contain the letter i.
Grammar Note: The Grammatical "Complement"
In linguistics and grammar, complement has a technical meaning distinct from everyday usage. A grammatical complement is a word or phrase that completes the meaning of a verb, adjective, or noun. Subject complements (She is a doctor), object complements (They elected him president), and adjectival complements all fall under this term. This grammatical use of complement follows the same spelling as the everyday word: it refers to something that completes a grammatical structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which spelling is more commonly confused?
Writers most often use compliment when they mean complement — saying something "compliments" something else when they mean it enhances or pairs well with it. The reverse error (using complement for praise) occurs less often. The adjective form complimentary vs. complementary is where errors appear most frequently in published writing.
Is "with compliments" or "with complements" correct on a gift tag or note?
With compliments is the standard phrase when presenting something as a gesture of goodwill or courtesy — it expresses that the item is offered as a formal courtesy. Complements of the chef would be a grammatical error; the correct form is compliments of the chef.
Can "complement" ever mean praise?
No. Complement strictly refers to completing, enhancing, or forming a counterpart. For praise and admiration, only compliment is correct. The two words are related in sound only, not in meaning.