Hi First name / friend, Welcome to The Weekly Wink: a new email series to help you become a better writer, one sassy tip at a time. I hope you all had a lovely Valentine's Day, full of sweet compliments from your significant other (or just full of sweets, period). In the spirit of compliments… |
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“Complimentary” and “complementary” are homophones: words that have the same pronunciation but different meanings and (often) spellings. - Complimentary = flattering, favorable, or given for free
- “My husband was uncharacteristically complimentary toward me on Valentine's Day.”
- “Get a complimentary box of chocolates when you buy a bouquet of flowers.”
- Complementary = useful or attractive together
- “The wine was perfectly complementary to the cheese,”
- “They're a great couple; their personalities are so complementary.”
Most homophones are obvious (“I” vs. “eye”), but some are a bit trickier… - “Accept” vs. “except”
- “Allusion” vs. “illusion”
- “Addition” vs. “edition”
- “Capital” vs. “capitol”
- “Principal” vs. “principle”
- “Weather” vs. “whether”
Bottom line: Misspelling a homophone is a surefire way to embarrass yourself. Be especially careful not to mix up “complimentary” and “complementary.” With a wink, Sarah 😘 |
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Sarah Klongerbo Copywriter, Designer, and Strategist for Creative Brands |
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