With Our Compliments…
November 2, 2009 by Dawn Allcot
Filed under Mis-used Words, Uncategorized
“This Halloween, my daughter and I wore complementary fairy costumes. People were complimentary towards us, and many gave us complimentary treats.”
I admit squeezing that last “complimentary” in there is pushing it. Certainly there’s a more concise way to word these sentences. But I couldn’t resist the play on words with these fun homophones… or the chance to get a little personal and show off our costumes.
Now my secret is out: You are taking grammar instruction from a grown woman in a pink dress with large pastel wings. So let’s get down to business.
Using complementary
This word is often mis-spelled. When people err, they spell this word with an i, rather than an e. Complementary means “matching” or “coordinating,” although not exactly alike.
If you’re talking graphic design or interior decorating, complementary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel and tend to look good together.
In math, two complementary angles go “together” to form a 90-degree angle. But I promised no scary stuff in this column, and math is scary (to me!)
Using complimentary
Complimentary has two meanings, both good! It can mean “free” or it can mean “laudatory,” as in “to praise.” When you accept a compliment, you are accepting praise.
These two meanings are actually very similar. When you receive a complimentary item, it is free. Often, businesses will offer you something free and say, “With our compliments.” In essence, they are “praising” you for your business, for making the smart choice to shop with them.
It’s easy to remember that you use the same spelling for both definitions; it doesn’t cost anything to “pay” someone a compliment. Compliments are free, just like complimentary items!
Mnemonic Devices
Now we know complementary means “matching” or “going together.” Complimentary means “free” or “laudatory.” How do we remember how to spell each word?
There are no commonly-accepted mnemonic devices to remember these words, (at least, none I’ve ever heard!) which is probably why complementary is so frequently mis-used.
But I came up with at least one way to remember:
“Complimentary” things, whether words or items, make you smile (with an I). Meanwhile, the two “Es”in complementary match (complement) each other.
A challenge for you
Here’s your Monday challenge. Can you write one or two related sentences using all three words in the correct context? Show me what you’ve got – post it in the comments section. I know you can do better than my example!
A chance to win!
And… to make it interesting… one winner, drawn at random from all the *correct* comments received by next Monday, 5 PM EST, will receive a complimentary book about writing and grammar.
Come up with more than one example and you’ll be entered once for each correct example you submit.
Ready…Set… Write!
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Complimentary hors d’oeuvres were served at the fashion show on Friday. The judges were very complimentary towards the designers, who had created complementary dresses for the models.
“I was overjoyed to receive complimentary acclaim for the stylized use of complementary colors in the complimentary design of my friend’s business cards.”
“You and I complement each other rather well every time we offer complimentary advice with our complimentary readings.”
I’ve often thought compliments are rather selfishly “I, I, I”. They’re all about “I”. I give them, I receive them. Because I’m so unique I rarely complement anything else, however, thEy do. ThEy wear shoes that complement the socks thEy are wearing.
“My fashion sense is so poor that I rarely wear socks that complement each other and never receive compliments, or complimentary clothing, for my taste in complementary attire.”
When you walls complement your furniture, your guests give complimentary compliments on your taste.
My compliments to you and that dazzling child! You two rock!
My students really appreciated the complementary lessons I offered to them for test preparation. They especially liked the fact that it was complimentary and they were extremely complimentary to me on my teaching style.