There is often confusion over the words Complement and Compliment.
Compliment
A compliment (with an i) is an expression of praise.
Examples:
- My compliments to the chef for such a wonderful starter. (my praise to the chefs)
- When I said your eyes looked misty, I meant that as a compliment. (I meant that as praise)
Complement
A complement (with an e) is something that enhances something else or goes well with it.
For example, cranberry sauce is a complement for turkey. It is not common, but complement can also mean composition or make-up. (When used, it is often seen in the term full complement, meaning the whole number.)
Examples:
- The cashew nuts were an excellent complement for the soup. (cashew nuts went well with the soup)
- The drums were a perfect complement to their dancing style. (drums enhanced their dancing style)
The Verbs To Compliment and To Complement:
The examples above all relate to nouns. However, both words exist as verbs too.
- I would like to compliment the pilot on such a smooth landing. (pass praise to the pilot)
- The jade and silver cufflinks complement the green tie. (go well with the green tie)