ShmoopTube

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Compliment versus Complement, a la Shmoop. Your best friend Lisa showed up at school

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this morning with a new pleather jacket...

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...and you complimented her on finding a jacket that complemented her jeans.

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Fortunately, Lisa was so busy looking awesome that she didn't ask if you were using “compliment”

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with an “i” or “complement” with an “e.”

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The rule is: use “compliment” with an “i” when you want to praise someone or

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something...

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...and use “complement” with an “e” when you think that something goes together

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with something else. For example, use the word “compliment”...

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...“compliment” with an “i”, that is...

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...when you want to compliment your dad on making something other than hot dogs for dinner...

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...or compliment your kid brother for actually hitting the inside of the toilet bowl when

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he takes a leak. Use the word “complement”...

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...that's “complement” with an “e”...

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...when your grandmother gives you a purse that complements your shoes...

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...or your best friend's happy mood complements your own.

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Now, you may be wondering… since “compliment” and “complement” are spelled almost the

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same, how the heck are you supposed to remember which is which?

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Try this trick. “Compliment” with an “i” means you're praising something. Use that

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“i” to remember the phrase “I give compliments”.

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“Complement” with an “e” means you think something goes well with something else.

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Use that “e” to remember the phrase “My complementary shoes complete this outfit.”

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Not that you care about such material things… So, boys and girls, one more time, with feeling.

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Use “compliment” with an “i” when you want to praise someone or something...

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...and “complement” with an “e” when you think that something goes together with

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something else.

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