Difference between revisions of "Complement - compliment"
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These are two words that sound exactly the same (they are [[homophones]]). | 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 (‘pay someone a '''compliment'''’) when you want to be nice: “What a nice dress!â€, “That’s very cleverâ€, “You played very well†etc. | + | * A '''compliment''', or a '''compliment'''ary remark, is something you say to someone (‘pay someone a '''compliment'''’) when you want to be nice: “What a nice dress!â€, “That’s very cleverâ€, “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 '''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. | + | * 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]]. | ||
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[[Category:spelling common errors]] [[category:homophones]] | [[Category:spelling common errors]] [[category:homophones]] | ||
Revision as of 14:44, 20 April 2007
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 be nice: “What a nice dress!â€, “That’s very cleverâ€, “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.
