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Complement vs compliment

Compliment = praise. Complement = something that completes or suits.

compliment

noun or verb: praise; also “free” in complimentary

Test: Is someone saying something nice?

Thanks for the compliment.
She complimented my essay.

complement

noun or verb: something that completes, matches or enhances

Test: Does it complete or go well with something?

The wine complements the fish.
A full complement of staff.

CompLEment compLEtes. ComplIment: I like it when people say nice things.

Test yourself

Five sentences. Apply the test above to each one before you pick.

That’s a lovely _____, thank you.
The rug _____ the sofa nicely.
Breakfast is _____.
Their skills _____ each other.
He _____ the chef on the soup.

Pick an answer for each sentence.

Complementary vs complimentary

Complimentary means free (“complimentary drinks”) or flattering. Complementary means completing each other, as in complementary colours (opposites on the colour wheel) or complementary angles (adding up to 90°).

Catch it automatically

The grammar checker flags common mix-ups like this one by looking at the words around them, and the sentence checker can explain any sentence you’re unsure about.

Questions people ask

Is it “complimentary breakfast”?

Yes, with an i. Complimentary means free.

What are complementary colours?

Colours opposite each other on the colour wheel, such as blue and orange.

Other grammar guides

Affect vs effectAffect is usually the verb. Effect is usually the noun.Its vs it’sIt’s = it is / it has. Its = belonging to it.Your vs you’reYou’re = you are. Your = belonging to you.Their, there and they’reTheir = belonging to them. There = place / “there is”. They’re = they are.Advice vs adviseAdvice is the noun (rhymes with “nice”). Advise is the verb (rhymes with “prize”).Then vs thanThan compares things. Then tells you when.Whose vs who’sWho’s = who is / who has. Whose = belonging to whom.Principal vs principlePrinciple = a rule or belief. Principal = main, a head person, or a loan amount.Lose vs looseLose = misplace or not win (rhymes with “shoes”). Loose = not tight (rhymes with “goose”).Who vs whomWho does the action (he). Whom receives it (him).I.e. vs e.g.E.g. = for example (some of many). I.e. = that is (the exact thing).Farther vs furtherFarther = physical distance. Further = degree, time or “more”.Everyday vs every dayEveryday = ordinary (an adjective). Every day = each day.Into vs in toInto = movement inside or a change. In to = “in” (part of a verb) + “to”.Lay vs lieYou lay something down. You lie down yourself.Fewer vs lessFewer for countable things. Less for uncountable amounts.Accept vs exceptAccept = receive or agree to. Except = apart from.To, too and twoTo = direction or verb marker. Too = also / excessively. Two = 2.