Wedding Invitations & Paper

Complimentary or Complementary Valet Parking

I posted this on the etiquette board, but have not received an answer. We are offering free valet parking at the reception. I would have thought the spelling would be complimentary valet parking, but someone mentioned it should be complementary.

Would the spelling be complimentary or complementary and why?

Re: Complimentary or Complementary Valet Parking

  • You should use complimentary.

    com·pli·men·ta·ry 
    adjective
    1. of the nature of, conveying, or expressing a compliment, often one that is politely flattering: a complimentary remark.
    2. given free as a gift or courtesy: a complimentary ticket

    com·ple·men·ta·ry 
    adjective
    1. forming a complement;  completing.
    2. complementing  each other.
  • Complimentary. 

    Complementary (with the E rather than I) refers to things completing or complementing each other. Complimentary means free of charge.

  • aragx6aragx6 member
    5 Love Its Combo Breaker First Comment
    Complimentary means free of charge. Complementary means it goes well together. You're right.
    Lizzie
  • Thanks ladies! I thought I was correct, but of course had to make sure!
  • Lisa50Lisa50 member
    5 Love Its Combo Breaker First Comment
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_invites-paper_complimentary-or-complementary-valet-parking?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:cd062f89-8272-496a-b0ab-225e1f87acecDiscussion:fcb99c59-3190-4daa-b207-ac630828aca1Post:36baa64c-6eb4-49a3-b11b-a306387804d4">Complimentary or Complementary Valet Parking</a>:
    [QUOTE]I posted this on the etiquette board, but have not received an answer. We are offering free valet parking at the reception. I would have thought the spelling would be complimentary valet parking, but someone mentioned it should be complementary. Would the spelling be <strong><font color="#ff0000">complimentary</font></strong> or complementary and why?
    Posted by MargaretHS[/QUOTE]

    From dictionary.com (see #2):<div class="header"><h2 class="me">com·pli·men·ta·ry</h2>  <span class="pronset"><span class="speaker"><a onmousedown="spk(this,{lk:'nx1fkx',en:'wotdau',io:'0',b:'wotd',tp:'lrl',m:'wotdau'})" href="#"></a><a target="_blank" href="<a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/audio.html/lunaWAV/C07/C0704800">http://dictionary.reference.com/audio.html/lunaWAV/C07/C0704800"><img</a> border="0" src="<a href="http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/speaker.gif"> /></a></a></span> <span style="display:none;" class="show_ipapr"><span class="prondelim">/</span><span class="pron">ˌkɒmpləˈmɛntəri</span><span class="pron">,</span> <span class="pron">-tri</span><span class="prondelim">/</span> <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/help/luna/IPA_pron_key.html" target="_blank" class="questionmark" rel="nofollow"></a> <span style="display:inline;" class="pron_toggle"><a title="Click to show spelled" class="pronlink">Show Spelled</a> </span></span><span style="display:inline;" class="show_spellpr"><span class="prondelim">[</span><span class="pron">kom-pl<span class="ital-inline">uh</span>-<span class="boldface">men</span>-t<span class="ital-inline">uh</span>-ree</span><span class="pron">,</span> <span class="pron">-tree</span><span class="prondelim">]</span> <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/help/luna/Spell_pron_key.html" target="_blank" class="questionmark" rel="nofollow"></a> <span style="display:inline;" class="pron_toggle"><a title="Click to show IPA" class="pronlink">Show IPA</a> </span></span></span><span class="pg"><span><span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">adjective,</span> <span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">noun,</span> </span></span><span class="pg"><span><span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">plural</span> </span></span><span class="secondary-bf"><span><span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">com·pli·men·ta·ries.</span> </span></span> </div><div class="body"><div class="pbk"><span class="pg"><span><span>adjective</span> </span></span><div class="luna-Ent"><span class="dnindex"><span><span>1.</span> </span></span><span><span>of</span> <span>the</span> </span><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nature" rel="nofollow"><u><font color="#0066cc">nature</font></u></a><span> <span>of,</span> <span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">conveying,</span> <span>or</span> <span>expressing</span> <span>a</span> </span><span><a style="font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;" href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/compliment" rel="nofollow"><u><font color="#0066cc">compliment</font></u></a><span>, </span></span><span> <span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">often</span> <span>one</span> <span>that</span> <span>is</span> <span>politely</span> <span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">flattering:</span> </span><span class="ital-inline"><span><span>a</span> <span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">complimentary</span> <span>remark.</span> </span></span></div><div class="luna-Ent"><span class="dnindex"><span><span>2.</span> </span></span><span><span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">given</span> <span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">free</span> <span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">as</span> <span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">a</span> <span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">gift</span> <span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">or</span> <span>courtesy:</span> </span><span class="ital-inline"><span><span>a</span> <span>complimentary</span> <span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">ticket.</span> </span></span></div></div></div>
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards