Month: March 2008

“Complementary” vs. “Complimentary”

Adjectives, Common English Blunders, Versus

I often see these two adjectives confused.

Problem:
The adjectives “complementary” and “complimentary” are not synonyms.

Explanation:
The adjective “complementary” means forms a complement, and a “complement” is something that completes.

The adjective “complimentary” means expressing or of the nature of a compliment, and a “compliment” is related to the word “comply” and is an expression of praise.

Therefore:

  • “John has complementary dishes.” — spelled with an “e” — means that John has dishes that complete or match one another;
  • “John has complimentary dishes.” — spelled with an “i” — means that John has dishes that he got as a gift.

A simple way to distinguish “complementary” from “complimentary” is to remember that “complementary” and “complete” both begin with “comple-“.

Solution:
Use “complementary” when you are talking about someone or something that completes someone or something else. Use “complimentary” when you are talking about praise or a gift.

“All ready” vs. “Already”

Adjectives, Adverbs, Versus

I sometimes see “all ready” where “already” is required.

Problem:
“All ready” is an adjectival phrase whereas “already” is an adverb.

Explanation:
The adjectival phrase “all ready” means entirely ready.

For example, “He was all ready to leave for Argentina.” means “He was entirely ready to leave for Argentina.”

The adverb “already” means either previously or now or so soon.

For example, “He already had left for Argentina.” means “He previously had left for Argentina.”

And “He is already here in Argentina.” means “He is now here in Argentina.”.

Solution:
Use “all ready” when you mean entirely ready. Use “already” when you mean previously or now or so soon.

“He did not call back yet.”

Adverbs, Common English Blunders, Tenses

I heard this yesterday on a radio show.

Problem:
The adverb does not match the tense of the verb.

Explanation:
The adverb “yet” means at the present time.

The expression “did not call” is in the past tense, so “yet” does not go with “did not call” (or any other expression in the past tense).

In other words, it makes no sense to say, “He did not call back at the present time.”

To fix this, one must change the expression to the present tense.

Solution:
“He has not called back yet.”