supplementing

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'supplementing' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe an action in which something is added to something else to make it more complete. For example: "The nutritionist suggested supplementing her diet with additional vitamins and minerals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Development partners like the African Medical and Research Foundation (Amref), which is implementing the four-year Katine project, Sightsavers International and Uganda Society for the Disabled are supplementing government funding.

The Guardian

(For treatment, the authors recommend prescribing a benign antiparasitic ointment to build trust, and supplementing it with an antipsychotic).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The algae itself is then turned into gas and used to generate electricity, supplementing the solar cells built into the windows and balconies.

The Guardian - Travel

Consumers are supplementing their traditional coffee usage with pods, thereby growing the overall category.

The Guardian

Mr Eklund sums it up: "The tax base is being eroded by international competition".Freedom of choiceGiven scarce resources, the welfare state must either shrink, for example by supplementing public with private pensions, or become more efficient.

The Economist

It proposes supplementing the annual £101 ($162) licence fee, which must now be paid by all television-owners in Britain to the BBC.

The Economist

The strength of opposition to the DM630-job changes shows how important part-time work has become to many Germans, often supplementing full-time work.

The Economist

Covering a machine with honeycomb is much simpler.Indeed, though it is unlikely to replace airbags in cars, Mr Kellas's honeycomb may end up supplementing them by providing additional energy-absorbing areas.

The Economist

On March 26th the chief prosecutor, Luisa Ortega Díaz, said social media should be "regulated" to avoid the spread of rumours.Under Nicolás Maduro, who succeeded Chávez as president in 2013, the government is supplementing its relentless propaganda with self-censorship.

The Economist

Because that increases the risk of failure, last year Britain started supplementing its debt auctions with syndicated deals.Dealers themselves face more pressure to support the market.

The Economist

Mr Clifford reckons that ultracapacitors will transform his vehicles and enable them to be used on motorways as well as city streets.Whether ultracapacitors really will take over the market now dominated by batteries, rather than merely supplementing them in it, remains to be seen for batteries themselves are also getting better.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "supplementing", ensure that the item being supplemented is already functional or present. It implies an addition to something existing, rather than a complete replacement.

Common error

Avoid using "supplementing" when you actually mean replacing. "Supplementing" implies adding to something that already exists, while replacing means substituting one thing for another. For example, instead of saying "supplementing old software with new software", use "replacing old software with new software".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "supplementing" primarily functions as a present participle, often used as part of a continuous verb tense or as a gerund. It describes an ongoing action of adding something to enhance or complete another thing. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is considered grammatically correct in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "supplementing" is a grammatically correct and frequently used present participle that indicates the action of adding something to enhance or complete something else. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's considered appropriate for use in written English. It finds common usage in news, science, and formal business contexts. While related phrases like "adding to" or "enhancing with" exist, "supplementing" often implies a deliberate act of improving completeness. When using "supplementing", ensure you're adding to an existing entity, not replacing it entirely. This guide, incorporating diverse examples and linguistic insights, provides a thorough understanding of effectively using "supplementing" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adding to

Focuses on the act of increasing quantity or amount, rather than improving quality or completeness.

enhancing with

Highlights the improvement aspect of adding something; less about making something complete.

complementing with

Emphasizes the harmonious combination of elements, suggesting they work well together.

augmenting with

Suggests a more significant increase or expansion than simply "supplementing".

bolstering with

Implies strengthening or reinforcing something that is already present.

reinforcing with

Similar to bolstering, but with a stronger emphasis on making something more secure.

underpinning with

Focuses on providing a foundation or support for something.

shoring up with

Suggests providing temporary support to prevent collapse or failure.

filling out with

Focuses on making something more complete by adding missing elements.

extending with

Highlights the expansion or prolongation of something.

FAQs

How can I use "supplementing" in a sentence?

You can use "supplementing" to describe the act of adding something extra to improve or complete something else. For example, "The company is "supplementing its marketing strategy" with social media campaigns".

What are some alternatives to "supplementing"?

Alternatives to "supplementing" include "adding to", "enhancing with", or "complementing with", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "supplementing with" or is "supplementing by" more appropriate?

"Supplementing with" is the more common and grammatically sound construction. While "supplementing by" might be used in specific, less frequent contexts, "supplementing with" is generally preferred.

What is the difference between "supplementing" and "complementing"?

"Supplementing" means adding something extra to improve or complete something, while "complementing" means enhancing or emphasizing the qualities of something else. "Supplementing" focuses on addition, while "complementing" focuses on harmonious combination. In the example, "supplementing the diet" refers to adding something to it while "complementing the outfit" refers to enhance it visually.