| Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993. |
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| complementary, complimentary (adjs.) |
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| These homophones, like complement and compliment, differ in meaning and spelling, and it is therefore only in writing and spelling or in ambiguous oral contexts that they can be confused. Something complementary “completes, supplies what is missing”; something complimentary “praises, expresses courtesy or admiration,” as in The reviews were all highly complimentary, or “is given free of charge,” as in The menu said we could have complimentary second cups of coffee. See SUPPLEMENTARY. | 1 |
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| | | The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. Copyright © 1993 Columbia University Press. |
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