Learning Center

Confusing compliment and complement can compromise credibility and crush chances to convince colleagues of cognizance. Saying something nice about something or someone is a “compliment,” but not all compliments have to be verbal. For example, “Jane paid me a compliment by ravenously gorging on the food I had prepared.” “Complement,” is not as common, and its meaning is associated with matching or completing. Complements are different elements that somehow work together, each adding something not possessed by the others. In this sense the word is a noun, but it can also be used as a verb. For example, “My work experience and college education complement each other and enhance my overall ability to complete the task.” Remember the “i” in nice when differentiating between the two.