Common mistakes
Compliment or complement: choose the right spelling
Sign in to saveMaya gave her colleague a compliment after the presentation. The blue scarf was a complement to her gray coat. One spelling is about praise, while the other is about how two things work or look together.
Choose compliment for praise and complement for something that completes, improves, or matches another thing.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
compliment / complement /ˈkɒm.plɪ.mənt/ /ˈkɒm.plɪ.mənt/
The short answer
Use compliment when you mean praise. Use complement when one thing completes, improves, or matches another thing.
The chef thanked Amir for the compliment about the soup.
Why it works: Amir said something positive about the chef's work, so compliment is the noun for praise.
5 more examples
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Jon gave Rina a compliment on her clear explanation.
Compliment means praise that Jon expressed to Rina.
Not this:Jon's
diagrams complementRina's clear explanation. What changes: Complement means the diagrams add something useful and make the explanation more complete. -
The receptionist accepted the visitor's compliment with a smile.
The visitor offered praise, so compliment is the correct noun.
Not this:The reception area's warm
lamps complementthe pale walls. What changes: Complement describes a visual match between the lamps and the walls. -
A short note can be a thoughtful compliment after a teammate finishes difficult work.
The note expresses appreciation for the teammate's work.
Not this:A short note
can complement a giftby explaining why you chose it. What changes: Complement means add to or complete the gift rather than praise it. -
She complimented the mechanic on the careful repair.
Compliment can be a verb when someone gives praise directly.
Not this:The careful
repair complementsthe new safety checks. What changes: Complement is a verb here because the repair and the checks support each other. -
Her manager's compliment made the new employee feel more confident.
The manager's positive comment is a compliment.
Not this:Her manager's
feedback complementsthe training she received last week. What changes: Complement means the feedback adds to the training and helps complete it.
Read the full guide
First ask whether a person is praising someone. If yes, write compliment. If the sentence is about parts that work well together, or about making something complete, write complement.
Use compliment for praise
A compliment is a positive comment about a person or their work. You might compliment a friend on a new haircut, a coworker on a useful idea, or a host on a meal. The sentence usually has a person who gives praise and a person or thing that receives it.
Nora gave the designer a compliment on the simple logo.
Nora is praising the designer's work. The noun needs the i spelling.
Use complement for parts that fit together
A complement is something that makes another thing more complete, useful, or pleasing. It can refer to food, clothes, colors, skills, or ideas. The two things often have different jobs, yet they work well together.
Fresh bread was a good complement to the vegetable soup.
Praise: He offered a compliment to the cook. Matching part: The bread was a complement to the soup.
Notice the verb patterns
Both words can be verbs. Compliment someone on something means give them praise. Complement something means add to it in a way that makes a good combination. The object after each verb tells you which meaning is intended.
The coach complimented Imani on her calm decision.
Imani's calm decision complemented the team's careful planning.
Use a spelling memory that checks the meaning
The word complement has an e, like complete. That connection can remind you that a complement makes something more complete. Compliment has an i and is the spelling for praise. The memory aid is useful only after you identify the meaning. Do not choose a spelling because the words sound different, because they normally do not.
The bright green leaves complemented the white flowers in the vase.
Keep praise respectful and combinations precise
A useful compliment says what you appreciate without making a person uncomfortable. For example, praise a colleague's preparation or clear explanation rather than making a personal remark. When you use complement, name what is being completed or matched. That makes the connection clear for your reader.
You are describing a blue tie that looks good with a gray shirt. Which spelling fits: compliment or complement?
Use complement. The tie and shirt look good together, so one item matches and improves the other. A compliment would be praise that someone says or writes.
Before you go
Remember this
Use compliment for praise, either as a noun or a verb. Use complement for something that completes, improves, or matches another thing. Remember complete for the e spelling, then read the whole sentence before you choose.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Compliment or complement: choose the right spelling"
What is the difference between compliment and complement?
A compliment is praise or a positive comment. A complement is something that completes, improves, or matches another thing. Jon's praise for Rina is a compliment, while his diagrams can complement her explanation.
Jon gave Rina a compliment on her clear explanation.
How can I remember the spelling of complement?
Connect complement with complete. A complement supplies something useful, such as fresh bread that goes well with soup or feedback that adds to earlier training. Use the memory aid after you identify the meaning in the sentence.
Jon's diagrams complement Rina's clear explanation.
Can compliment and complement both be verbs?
Yes. Compliment someone on something when you praise them, as when someone compliments a mechanic on a repair. Complement something when it adds to or works well with it, as when a repair complements safety checks.
The receptionist accepted the visitor's compliment with a smile.
Are compliment and complement pronounced the same?
In standard English, compliment and complement are usually pronounced the same. Listen to the meaning and use the context when writing. Praise needs compliment, while a matching or completing part needs complement.
The reception area's warm lamps complement the pale walls.
What does complementary mean?
Complementary is the adjective related to complement. It describes things that work well together or complete each other, such as complementary skills in a team. It does not mean that the things are exact copies.
A short note can be a thoughtful compliment after a teammate finishes difficult work.