Who doesn’t love a nice compliment?
“What a lovely dress!”
“This dish is fabulous; will you share the recipe?”
“Your speech was so inspiring!”
I would wager, however, that most compliments are spoken. Unless you are recounting a story, compliments, and use of the word compliment itself, tend to be given in person.
“Why thank you. Your compliment means a lot to me.”
Yet, in just the last week, I came across the word compliment while editing two different pieces of writing. I was dismayed; the word the writers meant to use—should have used—was complement.
As much as I like a compliment, I love the word complement. The first time I read it I thought it was one of the most concise, lovely, sophisticated words in the English language. It captures the essence of one thing enhancing another, the way a blue shirt emphasizes (complements) blue eyes, or an amber beer enhances the flavor of (complements) Gorgonzola cheese (try it sometime!).
Although both compliment and complement have roots in the Latin complere (to fulfill or complete),complement has maintained the original meaning of completion, while compliment has evolved to indicate words of praise. My research revealed that until the mid-17th century the English spelling for compliment was complement, and spelling of the French noun was compliment. The English-speaking world adopted the French spelling and voilà, confusion continues today. How many fewer mistakes there would be if our English forebears had kept them both spelled the same way.
Choosing the correct word helps your reader understand your meaning. Pause to read your writing after your fingers have flown across the keyboard with preconditioned spelling; are you using the words that will most clearly convey your intention? Consider the difference between these two sentences:
The couple complimented each other.
The couple complemented each other.
In the first sentence, we may imagine two people exchanging admiration for each other, perhaps with folly or falseness. In the second, we may imagine a well-rounded couple, a perfect match. Both sentences are correct, but one letter changes the reader’s perception.
To recap: A compliment is an expression of admiration, while a complement is something that enhances or adds to something else. When in doubt, remember: complement completes.
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Originally published May 10, 2023.