• HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WORKSHOPS
  • WRITING
  • WELTCHEK WEEKLY
  • CONTACT
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WORKSHOPS
  • WRITING
  • WELTCHEK WEEKLY
  • CONTACT

The Weltchek Weekly

Your Bulletin for Better Business Writing

 
Categories
  • Prepare
  • Organize
  • Write
  • Edit
  • Review
  • Say It Better. Say It Right
Sign up for the Weltchek Weekly
Your Bulletin for Better Business Writing

Compliment or Complement?

  • Category: Review
  • |
  • On December 11, 2018

Which of the following sentences features a word that’s being used incorrectly?

  • Use images that complement and reinforce your message and convey a real-world look and feel.
  • This new offering compliments the company’s existing flextime arrangements.
  • Shoppers receive complimentary shipping on orders over $50.

If you chose the second sentence, you chose correctly. In it, the word compliments should be complements.

To complement means to complete or enhance something—or someone. Think of the famous scene from the movie Jerry Maguire, where Tom Cruise says to Rene Zellweger, “You complete me.” (And she, in turn, says, “You had me at hello.”) To compliment means to congratulate or praise, as in He complimented me on my promotion.

Both words come in verb, noun, and adjective form. You pay someone a compliment and if you say nice things about them, you’re being complimentary. Complimentary also means free, so if you’re at a restaurant and get something compliments of the chef, it’s not going to show up on your bill.

As for the various forms of complement, if you’re hiring somebody, it’s often wise to focus on candidates who have complementary skills because they will be able to do things you can’t, and your team will be all the stronger for it.

If you enjoyed this post, I compliment you on your good taste.

 

Share:

Previous Post

Not Everything Is a Journey

Next Post

Resource Optimization?
Scroll

Weltchek Weekly

Want help sprucing up your copy?
Sign up here to get practical tips for improving everything you write.

 
  • The State of Engagement
  • On Behalf of Myself—Not!
  • Let’s Agree—in Person

© 2023 WeltchekWrites

Contact me here