Talking sculptures - Compliment vs. Complement

“I went to visit the gallery today; it was an incredible experience.”

“How so?”

“The new sculptures complimented the paintings very nicely.”

“I went to visit the gallery today; it was an incredible experience.”

“How so?”

“The new sculptures complemented the paintings very nicely.”

Which one is correct?

That depends upon what you meant to say.

If you meant to say the exhibition was an incredible experience because the sculptures were saying nice things to the paintings, then compliment.

I’d surmise not though.

It’s an easy error, a compliment is flattery, ergo flattering. Using compliment to mean the sculptures flattered the paintings is a natural expansion.

However,

compliment explicitly means:

                                     ‘an expression of esteem, respect, affection, or admiration’     

 (See here for full definition https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compliment)    

 and complement means:

                                    ‘something that fills up, completes, or makes better or perfect’

(See here for full definition https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complement)

So unless it was an incredibly interactive exhibition, complement is correct.  

Now, second question: Were you affected or effected by your gallery experience?

Get in touch today. Make sure your writing knows you were affected by the exhibition, what effect it had, and doesn’t accidentally wax lyrical about talking sculptures.