What is a complementary and supplementary?

Complementary vs. Supplementary: What’s the Real Difference?

Ever get tripped up by “complementary” and “supplementary”? You’re definitely not alone. These words sound similar, and both involve adding something to something else, but they actually mean quite different things. Getting the hang of this distinction can seriously sharpen your communication skills. So, let’s break it down in plain English.

Complementary: The Missing Piece of the Puzzle

Think of “complementary” as what’s needed to make something whole. It’s not just an extra; it’s the thing that completes the picture, like the final piece of a jigsaw puzzle. It suggests a tight, often essential, relationship where the items involved just work better together.

What makes something complementary?

• Completes the picture: It fills a gap, turning something incomplete into a complete unit.
• Makes things better: It boosts the qualities of whatever it’s paired with.
• Needs the other half: Often, one relies on the other to really shine.
• Creates harmony: Complementary pairings often feel balanced and just…right.

Let’s look at some examples:

• Complementary colors: Remember learning about color wheels in art class? Red and green, blue and orange – those are complementary colors. They create a striking contrast side-by-side, and mix them together, you can even get black or white!
• Complementary skills: Ever been on a team where everyone had the same strengths? Disaster, right? The best teams have complementary skills. Maybe you’re a big-picture thinker, and your buddy is a detail-oriented wizard. Together, you’re unstoppable.
• Complementary angles: Geometry class flashbacks! Two angles are complementary if they add up to a perfect 90 degrees.
• Complementary medicine: This is where things like acupuncture or herbal remedies are used alongside conventional medicine. It’s about tackling health from multiple angles.

And hey, don’t mix up “complementary” with “complimentary.” One completes, the other is a freebie or a nice thing to say!

Supplementary: A Little Something Extra

“Supplementary,” on the other hand, is more like a bonus. It’s added to enhance something, but it’s not strictly essential. Think of it as extra support, information, or resources.

What makes something supplementary?

• Extra: It’s an add-on, not a necessity.
• Supportive: It gives the main thing a boost.
• Not crucial: The main thing can still function just fine without it.
• One-way street: It usually goes one way – one thing supplements the other, but not necessarily the other way around.

Some real-world examples:

• Supplementary reading: When I was in college, my professors always suggested “supplementary reading.” It was extra stuff to dig into if you wanted a deeper understanding of the topic.
• Supplementary income: A side hustle! It’s extra cash that boosts your main income.
• Supplementary angles: More geometry! Supplementary angles add up to 180 degrees (a straight line).
• Supplementary vitamins: Popping a vitamin D pill in the winter? That’s a supplementary vitamin, adding extra nutrients to your diet.

The Key Differences: A Quick Recap

FeatureComplementarySupplementaryRelationshipEssential, completing, needs the other halfExtra, supportive, not essentialNatureCreates a whole, enhances thingsProvides extra support, adds informationNecessityOften needed for things to work bestNot needed; the main thing works fine aloneExamplesColors, skills, angles, medicineReading, income, angles, vitamins