What a great question. These two homophones are so easily confused, especially in these days of talk-to-text.
When you offer a compliment, you are praising a feature of the other person or thing -- something they i-dentify with.
A complement is a support, balance, or match of some kind. For example, complementary angles share the work of adding up to 90 degrees. A person can have a complement at work or in partnership who provides the skills strengths he or she lacks.
Feel free to ask me for more clarification.
Anita W.
05/08/25