as a complement to

USAGE SUMMARY

"as a complement to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that enhances, makes up, or supports something else. For example, "The company has added fresh flowers to their restaurant as a complement to the modern décor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Movies as a complement to free shipping?

The New York Times

"I see this as a complement to our assortment".

The New York Times

It is meant as a complement to the live game.

The New York Times - Sports

Spread on bread or serve as a complement to roasted meats or fried fish.

The New York Times - Magazine

I'm currently working on a résumé as a complement to this photo.

The New Yorker

"We're certainly open to subscriptions as a complement to an ad-supported model".

The New York Times - Tech

"We see ourselves as a complement, to allow for sharing on multiple networks, all at once".

The New York Times - Tech

The house has radiant underfloor heating as a complement to its central heating system.

The New York Times

NBC billed the stream as a complement to its television broadcast, not a replacement.

The New York Times

"Finally I decided to create a Weblog as a complement to the sites that collect weird news stories".

The New York Times - Tech

The gangsters enjoy secret support and protection and in effect work "as a complement to state structures".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as a complement to" when you want to emphasize that something enhances or completes something else, rather than replaces it. For example, "Physical therapy was used as a complement to medication in treating the injury".

Common error

Do not use "as a complement to" when the relationship is already clear from the context. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. For example, instead of saying "The app provides tutorials as a complement to its main features", consider "The app provides tutorials that support its main features".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as a complement to" functions as a prepositional phrase, indicating that something enhances or completes another element. It sets up a relationship of augmentation, where one thing adds value or completeness to another. Ludwig provides numerous examples of this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

34%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as a complement to" is a prepositional phrase used to describe something that enhances or completes another element. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used, as demonstrated by the numerous examples across diverse fields. It is most commonly found in Science, News & Media, and Formal & Business contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure it accurately reflects a supportive relationship and avoid redundancy. Alternatives like "in conjunction with" or "alongside" can be used to vary your writing. By understanding its proper usage, you can effectively convey the idea of enhancement and completeness in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in conjunction with

This emphasizes the joint action or occurrence of two things.

alongside

This suggests things existing or happening together in space or time.

in addition to

Focuses on adding something extra to what already exists.

supplementing

Implies filling a deficiency or enhancing something incomplete.

as a supplement to

Highlights the supporting role of something additional.

to enhance

Highlights the improvement that something brings to another thing.

to augment

Implies increasing or making something greater by adding to it.

to reinforce

This focuses on strengthening or supporting an existing structure or idea.

to round out

Suggests completing something by adding what is missing.

as an adjunct to

Highlights the supporting or auxiliary nature of one thing to another.

FAQs

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

Use "as a complement to" to indicate that something enhances or completes something else. For instance, "The online course serves as a complement to the textbook".

What are some alternatives to "as a complement to"?

You can use alternatives like "in conjunction with", "alongside", or "in addition to" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "as a complement to" or "as a supplement to"?

Both phrases are correct, but "as a complement to" emphasizes enhancing or completing something, while "as a supplement to" suggests providing something that is lacking. Choose the phrase that best fits the specific relationship you are describing.

What's the difference between "as a complement to" and "in place of"?

"As a complement to" means something enhances or adds to something else, while "in place of" signifies a replacement. For example, "The therapy was used as a complement to medication" (enhances) versus "The therapy was used in place of medication" (replaces).