a great complement to

USAGE SUMMARY

'a great complement to' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe something that works well with something else to enhance it or make it better. For example, "The addition of a light honey mustard vinaigrette was a great complement to the salad."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I just think he's a great complement to their team".

The New York Times - Sports

"That's why the wisdom of the crowds is a great complement to it".

The New York Times

"I find teaching to be a great complement to what I do," she said.

The New York Times

And Dupuis had been a great complement to Hossa and Crosby on the first line.

The New York Times - Sports

"Senator Biden is a tremendous leader and a great complement to Senator Obama and his candidacy.

The Guardian

ISC labs were a great complement to the theoretical concepts learned in lectures.

Princeton University

Edge computing is a great complement to Internet clouds targeting mainly mobile applications.

Mobile Cloud Computing Foundations and Service Models

Sausages and bacon are a great complement to a turkey, served alongside the stuffing, roast potatoes and all the veg.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I believe it's a valuable program to implement in any classroom, and a great complement to a phys ed program".

The New York Times

This area is a great complement to our existing work in other perceptual modalities (speech and text).

University of California, Berkeley

This collection is a great complement to related research at the Berkman Center, some of which involved these same authors.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a great complement to", ensure that the relationship between the two elements is clear. Explicitly state how the complement enhances or improves the original item for maximum clarity.

Common error

Avoid implying that the primary subject is merely enhanced by the complement, rather than acknowledging the complement's supporting role. The complement should serve to enhance the primary subject, not the other way around.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a great complement to" serves as a predicate adjective, describing how one thing enhances or improves another. It highlights a beneficial relationship between two entities, where one adds value to the other. This aligns with Ludwig's examples, showing its function in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a great complement to" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression to describe something that enhances or improves another. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is most commonly found in News & Media and Academic writing. When using this phrase, ensure that the relationship between the two elements is clear and that the complement serves to enhance the primary subject, not the other way around.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an excellent addition to

Focuses on the idea of something being added to enhance the original item.

a wonderful accompaniment to

Emphasizes a harmonious pairing, particularly suitable for describing food or experiences.

a superb enhancement to

Highlights the improvement or augmentation provided.

an ideal supplement to

Suggests something that fills a gap or completes something else.

a perfect match for

Implies compatibility and suitability.

an effective adjunct to

More formal, suggesting something that assists or supports another thing.

a valuable asset for

Highlights the usefulness and benefit.

a fine complement for

A more refined and elegant way of expressing enhancement.

a fitting partner for

Suggests a close and appropriate relationship between two things.

a strong addition to

Emphasizes the strength and positive impact of the addition.

FAQs

How can I use "a great complement to" in a sentence?

Use "a great complement to" to describe something that enhances or improves another thing. For example, "The new software is a great complement to our existing security system."

What can I say instead of "a great complement to"?

You can use alternatives like "an excellent addition to", "a wonderful accompaniment to", or "a superb enhancement to" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "complement" or "compliment" in the phrase "a great complement to"?

In this context, "complement" is the correct word. "Complement" means something that enhances or completes something else. "Compliment" is an expression of praise.

How does "a great complement to" differ from "a good supplement to"?

"A great complement to" suggests that something enhances or completes something else, whereas "a good supplement to" suggests that something fills a gap or provides additional support. The former emphasizes enhancement, the latter, addition.