supplement

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'supplement' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that adds to or complements something else. For example: "The additional activities provided a useful supplement to the main lesson plan."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A selection will be published in a second supplement next week.

The Guardian - Opinion

Dr John Dean, a consultant cardiologist in Exeter, says NHS doctors who supplement their income by seeing patients privately end up compromising their ethics because they have a financial incentive to recommend treatment that may not be necessary.

The Guardian

The new $750 supplement attached to the maximum rate of FTB Part A for single parents of children aged 6-12 intendedded to ameliorate this, but the yearly loss is in the thousands.

The Guardian - Opinion

Fossil fuel interests increasingly supplement disinformation with insidious, defeatist, and self-serving misinformation: decades of fossil fuel burning as inevitable for human prosperity; renewable energy expansion as "difficult - if not impossible"; and climate regulation as "highly unlikely" to sway business-as-usual.

The Guardian - Opinion

Finally, it suggests that municipalities restrict the ability of some parents to choose their children's schools by introducing "controlled choice schemes that supplement parental choice to ensure a more diverse distribution of students in schools".

The Guardian

It is held in Denmark (European listings, 30 May, page 31, Festivals 2015 supplement).

The Guardian

Grayson, who also played in Lancashire for Blackburn and Blackpool, immediately reinstated a fitness coach, dietitian, chief scout and IT department to supplement his footballing staff and, since then, the only way has been up.

The Guardian - Sport

I accede, puffing through your ground floor in the inevitably vain hope of a small tip to supplement my meagre, below-London-living-wage salary.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Cutting seniors supplement – stalled This measure cut the seniors supplement for anyone holding a commonwealth seniors health card or the veterans' affairs gold card.

The Guardian

So, in my misinformed rebellion against media misogyny, I granted entry to all the calories – mainly in the form of cheap drinks and rubbish college canteen food that leaves you hungrier, inevitably leading to a toast or pizza supplement.

The Guardian

First things first: there is no "saddo" single supplement tax when camping.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In academic writing, use "supplement" to indicate adding information or perspectives from other sources, enriching the core arguments. For example, "supplementing the findings of previous studies".

Common error

The words "supplement" and "complement" are often confused. Remember that "supplement" means to add something extra, while "complement" means to enhance or complete something else. Use "supplement" when you're adding something that is not essential but helpful, and "complement" when you're adding something essential to complete the whole thing.

Linguistic Context

The word "supplement" functions as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to something that is added to enhance or complete something else. As a verb, it means to add something to something else in order to improve or complete it. Ludwig AI confirms the acceptability and proper usage of the term.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Formal & Business

32%

Science

24%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "supplement" is a versatile term that functions as both a noun and a verb, primarily used to indicate the addition of something to enhance or complete something else. Its grammatical status is correct, and it is very common across various contexts, including News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science. As Ludwig AI confirms, the usage is well-established and widely accepted. It's important to distinguish it from similar words like "complement", which implies a necessary enhancement rather than a mere addition. Understanding these nuances ensures effective and accurate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

add to

Focuses on the action of increasing the quantity or amount of something.

augment

Implies increasing something, making it greater.

bolster

Suggests strengthening or supporting something.

complement

Highlights the idea of enhancing something else, completing it.

enhance

Focuses on improving the quality or value of something.

reinforce

Implies strengthening or making something more effective.

top up

Means to fill something up again or to increase it to the desired level.

amplify

Indicates increasing the volume or intensity of something, or extending it.

pad out

Suggests adding unnecessary material to make something appear more substantial.

build on

Emphasizes the idea of developing something further, based on an existing foundation.

FAQs

How can I use "supplement" as a verb in a sentence?

You can use "supplement" as a verb to mean 'add to' or 'enhance'. For example, "I "supplement my income" by working part-time" or "The book "supplements the lecture" material".

What are some common synonyms for "supplement"?

Some common synonyms for "supplement" include "add to", "augment", "bolster", "enhance", and "complement". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "supplement to" or "supplement with"?

Both "supplement to" and "supplement with" are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Supplement to" usually refers to something being added to something else (e.g., "a supplement to the report"), while "supplement with" implies that something is being added using something else (e.g., "supplement your diet with vitamins").

What is the difference between "supplement" and "complement"?

"Supplement" means to add something extra to improve or complete something else. "Complement" means to enhance or complete something else, often indicating that the two elements work well together. For example, you might "supplement" your diet with vitamins, while a good wine "complements" a meal.