Quick answer: In Australian English, complement (with an e) means to complete, enhance, or go well with something. Compliment (with an i) means a kind remark or praise. The rule is identical to British and American English — one vowel letter is the only difference, but it changes the meaning entirely.
If you’ve ever paused mid-email wondering whether to write “your tie complements your suit” or “your tie compliments your suit”, you’re not alone. The two words sound identical in Australian English, differ by a single letter, and I see this mistake in client manuscripts, job applications and wedding speeches every single week.
The fix is simple once you know the rule, and it takes about ten seconds to lock in.
The two words side by side
| Term | Meaning / When to use | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Complement (with e) | To complete, enhance, or go well with something | “The native grasses complement the sandstone facade of the house.” |
| Compliment (with i) | An expression of praise, admiration or approval | “She paid him a compliment on his keynote speech.” |
That’s the whole map. Everything else in this article is just making sure you never pick the wrong row again.
When to use complement
Use complement when one thing completes another, makes it better, or fits together well. The Wikipedia entry on complement traces the word back to the Latin complementum, meaning “that which fills up or completes” — and that original sense is still exactly how we use it today.
The thing being completed can be an outfit, a meal, a colour scheme, a skill set, a resume, a design, a garden, or an argument. What matters is the relationship: two things that make each other better.
A few examples from real writing I’ve edited:
- Email to a client: “The muted terracotta tiles will complement the existing timber joinery beautifully.” (Not “compliment” — the tiles aren’t praising the joinery.)
- Resume line: “My background in data analysis complements the team’s strong creative direction.” (Not “compliments” — your skills complete the team, they don’t flatter it.)
- Wedding toast: “The crisp riesling perfectly complemented the spicy barramundi.” (Not “complimented” — the wine enhanced the fish, it didn’t give it a compliment.)
Notice the pattern: the subject of “complement” is always a thing, and it is always acting on another thing. People don’t complement things in this sense — things complement other things.
When to use compliment
Use compliment when someone says something kind, admiring or approving about someone or something else. According to the Wikipedia entry on compliment, the word comes from the Spanish cumplimiento, meaning “fulfilment of courtesy” — so at its root, a compliment is a social gesture, not a structural one.
A compliment can be spoken, written, implied, returned, fished for, or refused. It always involves a person doing the praising and (usually) a person receiving it.
Some everyday Australian examples:
- Text message to a friend: “Just saw your story — complimenting your new apartment, it looks incredible.” (Here the verb form means “giving praise”.)
- Performance review: “Her manager complimented her on the clarity of the quarterly report.” (Praise was given.)
- Cover letter: “I was complimented by my previous director on my ability to manage stakeholders across time zones.” (Someone praised me for this.)
If you can swap the word for “praised” or “paid a kind remark to” and the sentence still makes sense, you want the i spelling.
How to remember the difference
Here is the memory trick I teach every new junior editor, and it has never failed me:
- ComplEment has an E, and so does “completE”. Both words share that middle E because they share the same job — completing something.
- ComplIment has an I, and so does “I”. I like to give compliments. I received a lovely compliment. The I is the person doing the praising.
If you’re staring at a sentence and can’t decide, ask yourself one question: is something being completed, or is someone being praised? If the answer is “completed”, write the E. If the answer is “praised”, write the I.
A second, slightly nerdy trick: look at the adjective forms. Complementary (with an E) describes things that complete each other — “complementary colours on the wheel”. Complimentary (with an I) describes either praise or, confusingly, something given free of charge — “complimentary sparkling wine on arrival”. I’ll come back to that freebie meaning in a moment, because it’s the single biggest source of real-world confusion.
Common mistakes and exceptions
The “complimentary breakfast” trap
Australian hotels, airlines and event organisers love the phrase “complimentary breakfast”, “complimentary wifi”, “complimentary upgrade”. Here, complimentary (with an I) means “given free of charge, as a courtesy”. It does not mean the breakfast completes your stay — it means the breakfast is a gift.
This is the one place where the adjective form genuinely branches. If you mean “free”, use the I. If you mean “completing or enhancing”, use the E.
- “The hotel offered a complimentary bottle of Hunter Valley semillon.” (Free.)
- “The semillon was a complementary pairing for the oysters.” (It completed the pairing.)
Complementary colours, not complimentary colours
In art, design and even Australian school curricula, we talk about complementary colours — pairs that sit opposite each other on the colour wheel and intensify each other. Red and green, blue and orange, yellow and violet. Always with an E. I’ve seen this misspelled on design agency websites, on wedding invitation proofs, and once, memorably, on a sign at a Melbourne gallery.
US vs UK vs Australian English
Good news: there is no regional split here. Australian English follows British English on this pair, and British English follows the same rule as American English. The spelling, the meaning and the pronunciation are identical across all three varieties. You do not need to adjust for your audience, whether you’re writing for a Sydney law firm, a London publisher or a New York blog.
The verb trap in emails
The most common mistake I correct in professional emails is using “complimented” when the writer means “completed the set” or “went well with”. A typical offender:
- Wrong: “The new cushions really complimented the lounge.”
- Right: “The new cushions really complemented the lounge.”
The cushions weren’t flattering the lounge. They made it look better. That’s an E job.
When both spellings are technically possible
Occasionally, a sentence is grammatically valid with either word, but the meaning changes entirely:
- “Her scarf complemented her coat.” → The scarf went well with the coat.
- “Her scarf complimented her coat.” → The scarf praised the coat. (Nonsensical, unless you’re writing personified furniture for a children’s book.)
If the sentence sounds odd with “praised” swapped in, you want the E.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it “complementary colours” or “complimentary colours”? It is complementary colours (with an E), because the colours complete each other on the colour wheel. “Complimentary colours” would mean the colours are praising each other, which is not a thing.
Does Australian English spell these words differently from British or American English? No. The spelling and meaning of complement and compliment are identical in Australian, British and American English. The only difference you’ll encounter is the American tendency to spell “colours” as “colors”, which is unrelated to this pair.
What does “complimentary” mean when it describes a hotel amenity? It means the amenity is provided free of charge, as a courtesy — “complimentary breakfast”, “complimentary upgrade”, “complimentary wifi”. This is a different sense from “complementary”, which always means completing or enhancing.
What’s the fastest way to check which one I need mid-sentence? Swap the word for “complete” or “praise” in your head. If “complete” fits, write complement (both have an E). If “praise” fits, write compliment (both have an I). That single test solves it every time.
Anthony Perez, a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of Toronto, has dedicated over 12 years to studying the cognitive aspects of language acquisition, with a special focus on English spelling conventions. His journey into the world of spelling and word comparisons was sparked by his research on how non-native speakers adapt to English orthography. At SpellRightDaily, Anthony shares his insights through content that explores the science behind spelling acquisition and offers strategies for overcoming common traps in English spelling. His articles are particularly aimed at learners who are new to English, although his engaging explanations also attract native speakers interested in refining their spelling skills. Anthony’s research-driven approach provides an evidence-based perspective that enriches the site’s resources, offering readers not just the ‘how’ but the ‘why’ behind effective spelling strategies. His work at SpellRightDaily combines academic rigor with practical application, making complex concepts accessible to a broad audience.