Difference between revisions of "Complement - compliment"
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| − | These are two words that sound exactly the same | + | These are two words that sound exactly the same: they are [[homophones]]. |
| − | * A '''compliment''', or a '''compliment'''ary remark, is something you say to someone ( | + | * A '''compliment''', or a '''compliment'''ary remark, is something you say to someone ('pay someone a '''compliment'''') when you want to praise or congratulate them or to express admiration: 'What a nice dress!', 'That's very clever', 'You played very well', etc. |
| − | :Sometimes '''complimentary''' means | + | :Sometimes '''complimentary''' means 'free': e.g. '''complimentary''' tickets. These are things given because of the high esteem in which the giver holds the recipient. (Or not - sometimes they are merely an advertising gimmick!) |
| − | * A '''complement''', or a '''complement'''ary thing, is something that completes something else: e.g. a | + | * A '''complement''', or a '''complement'''ary thing, is something that completes something else: e.g. a ship's '''complement''' is her crew; one might say that an assignment has a '''complement'''ary Guide to experimental techniques; yin is '''complement'''ary to yang. |
In [[grammar]] a [[complement]] is one of the structural [[elements of a clause]]. | In [[grammar]] a [[complement]] is one of the structural [[elements of a clause]]. | ||
[[Category:spelling common errors]] [[category:homophones]] | [[Category:spelling common errors]] [[category:homophones]] | ||
Revision as of 12:08, 3 May 2015
These are two words that sound exactly the same: they are homophones.
- A compliment, or a complimentary remark, is something you say to someone ('pay someone a compliment') when you want to praise or congratulate them or to express admiration: 'What a nice dress!', 'That's very clever', 'You played very well', etc.
- Sometimes complimentary means 'free': e.g. complimentary tickets. These are things given because of the high esteem in which the giver holds the recipient. (Or not - sometimes they are merely an advertising gimmick!)
- A complement, or a complementary thing, is something that completes something else: e.g. a ship's complement is her crew; one might say that an assignment has a complementary Guide to experimental techniques; yin is complementary to yang.
In grammar a complement is one of the structural elements of a clause.
