Comments on: complimentary/complementary

By: Joe Sinclair

Joe Sinclair — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:58:22 +0000

I hope Jason Smether came back to read your reply. Otherwise he will continue to see this ‘mistake’ everywhere (mainly because it isn’t a mistake!)

By: jeziiika

jeziiika — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:04:01 +0000

mmmmmmmmm no tiene sentido ya q no se vasan a lo q necesito cortesias en un hotel de otro modo

By: Rachel V.

Rachel V. — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 13:41:08 +0000

Jason: Complimentary can mean both “expressing praise” or “given free as a courtesy or favor.” Although flowers and chocolates might complement (as in “complete”) a hotel room package, the message that is most likely being communicated is that these items are included as a courtesy (at no extra charge), hence the use of complimentary.

By: Jason Smether

Jason Smether — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 11:56:36 +0000

Example 1. I don’t agree. For example you might book a hotel room and the price might include “complementary flowers and chocolates”

i.e. complementary means that the flowers are included in the price, they are part of the complement of the package . the complimentary gift isn’t a compliment its a complement

this mistake drives me nuts and I see it everywhere

By: Rachel V.

Rachel V. — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 12:11:23 +0000

Good point, Tom.

By: Tom Elliott

Tom Elliott — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 05:33:40 +0000

ps sorry I left out some words above, I meant to “…if the gift was a complement to something already received…”

By: Tom Elliott

Tom Elliott — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 05:32:31 +0000

Regarding example 1. (above) ‘complementary’ could be used if the gift was a complement already received or possessed, eg “The socks were a complementary gift to the shoes she already owned”