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Is it complimentary or
complementary?
Both of these spellings exist and are very often used in the
wrong context; this can, of course, have a negative impact on the
writer/company using the wrong version and can damage hard-won
image. Some classic examples of wrong use are outlined below.
Complement
This always has the meaning of 'completing a set/making up a
whole'. This is used when saying that a tie goes well with
(complements) a shirt, for example. It is also used to describe a
number of people making up a group: 'This ship has a complement of
50.'
Compliment
This has two meanings: one is that someone is expressing nice
things about you, saying that you or something about you looks nice
(a compliment/to compliment someone); the other (when used as
'complimentary') means that something is free of charge or done as
an act of courtesy.
Example:
Therefore, it would be wrong to write: 'The wine compliments
the meal.' This means that the wine tells the meal how nice it
is!
It should be: 'The wine complements the meal.'
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Source: www.future.perfect.co.uk/grammartips
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