Complementary With vs. Complementary To – Which is Correct?
“Complementary to” is the standard and usually preferred construction, especially in formal writing: “The scarf is complementary to her coat.” “Complementary with” is also grammatical when emphasizing two things working well together, although it is less common. Use “to” for a direct relationship and “with” for a combination or cooperation.
Complementary with or complementary to: Which Is Correct?
Both complementary with and complementary to can be correct, but they are not equally common. Complementary to is the usual choice when one person or thing enhances, balances, or completes another.
Complementary with is possible when the emphasis is on two elements working together or forming a harmonious combination. However, many writers would naturally replace it with complementary to, complements, or works well with.
For example, “The blue curtains are complementary to the gray walls” is the most conventional phrasing. “The blue curtains are complementary with the gray walls” is understandable, but it sounds less idiomatic to many American English speakers.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use a simple replacement test. If you can replace the phrase with enhances, choose complementary to: “The lighting is complementary to the design” means “The lighting enhances the design.” Use with only when you want to stress cooperation or combination, as in “The sauce works well with the vegetables.”
| Word or phrase | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| complementary to | Adjective + preposition | Enhancing, balancing, or completing another thing | The warm color is complementary to the room’s cool tones. |
| complementary with | Adjective + preposition | Working harmoniously or effectively together | The new software is complementary with the existing system. |
How to Use Complementary With
Complementary with describes two things that work well together, especially when they are combined into a larger system, design, plan, or experience. It is grammatically acceptable, but it is less frequent and generally less natural than complementary to in polished American English.
This construction appears most often in technical, business, design, and product-related writing. In everyday conversation, speakers may prefer works well with, pairs well with, or goes well with.
Example 1: The training program is complementary with the company’s broader professional-development strategy.
Example 2: The spicy dressing is complementary with the sweetness of the roasted vegetables.
Example 3: These two technologies are complementary with one another rather than direct substitutes.
Etymology of the word Complementary
Complementary comes from complement, which derives from the Latin complementum, meaning “that which fills up or completes.” The adjective developed the sense of describing things that complete, balance, or enhance each other. It is different from complimentary, which can mean “free of charge” or “expressing praise.”
Because complementary is often confused with complimentary, review Complement vs. Compliment before choosing the correct word.
How to Use Complementary To
Complementary to is the standard and most widely accepted construction for stating that one thing enhances, balances, or completes another. It works in casual, professional, academic, and formal writing.
The noun or pronoun after to is the thing being enhanced or completed. The relationship may involve colors, skills, products, services, ideas, policies, or personalities.
Example 1: The silver jewelry is complementary to her dark blue dress.
Example 2: The consultant’s practical experience was complementary to the research team’s theoretical knowledge.
Example 3: The online lessons are complementary to the classroom instruction.
Etymology of the phrase Complementary To
The preposition to comes from Old English tō, which expressed direction, relation, or connection. In complementary to, it identifies the person or thing that is enhanced, balanced, or completed by something else.
Related Concepts
Understanding adjective-preposition combinations and the difference between complementary and complimentary makes this expression easier to use accurately.
- Complementary adjectives: A complementary adjective describes something that completes, balances, or enhances another thing. Common examples include complementary colors, complementary skills, and complementary services.
- Prepositional combinations: English adjectives often pair naturally with particular prepositions. “Similar to,” “different from,” and “complementary to” are conventional combinations.
- Complement versus compliment: A complement completes or enhances something, while a compliment is an expression of praise. Therefore, complementary and complimentary have different meanings.
- Direct relationship versus combination: Complementary to usually presents one thing in relation to another, whereas complementary with places more emphasis on the two things functioning together.
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples show how the preferred construction can appear in discussions of well-known creative works, entertainment, and public reporting:
- Film criticism: A review might describe a movie’s restrained musical score as complementary to its quiet visual style.
- Literary analysis: An essay about Pride and Prejudice could explain that Elizabeth Bennet’s wit is complementary to Darcy’s reserved temperament.
- Interior-design media: A decorating article might state that natural wood furniture is complementary to pale walls and soft lighting.
- Business news: A report about a merger might describe two companies’ product lines as complementary to one another.
- Food journalism: A restaurant review could say that the citrus garnish is complementary to the richness of the main course.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence: with or to.
- The new service is complementary ___ the company’s existing product line.
- The two software tools are complementary ___ one another.
- The green accent wall is complementary ___ the room’s neutral furniture.
- The fresh herbs work well ___ the creamy sauce.
- Her communication skills are complementary ___ his technical expertise.
Answer Key
- to — This is the standard choice for describing how one product enhances another.
- with — This sentence emphasizes the two tools functioning together.
- to — The wall color balances or enhances the furniture.
- with — “Works well with” is the natural combination phrase.
- to — The communication skills enhance or complete the technical expertise.
Complementary With Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Working well with | Functioning effectively alongside another thing |
| Compatible with | Able to exist, operate, or work successfully together |
| Harmonious with | Agreeing attractively or appropriately with another element |
| Pairing well with | Combining pleasingly or effectively with another thing |
Complementary To Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Enhancing | Improving the quality, effect, or appearance of something |
| Balancing | Offsetting or harmonizing another quality |
| Completing | Providing what is needed to make something whole |
| Supplementing | Adding useful support or an additional element |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “complementary to” or “complementary with” correct?
Both can be correct, but complementary to is more common and is usually the best choice in formal and professional writing.
Question 2: Is “complementary with” grammatically wrong?
No. “Complementary with” can describe two things that work harmoniously together. However, it is less idiomatic for many readers, so “complementary to” or “works well with” may sound more natural.
Question 3: What is the difference between complementary and complimentary?
Complementary means completing, balancing, or enhancing something. Complimentary means expressing praise or provided free of charge, as in “complimentary tickets.”
Conclusion
Both complementary with and complementary to are valid, but complementary to is the standard construction for showing that one thing enhances, balances, or completes another. Use with when emphasizing cooperation or combination, and choose to when in doubt. Pro Tip: In professional writing, the more familiar “complementary to” usually sounds clearer and more polished.
