Page 95 - Improve_Your_Written_English [Marion_Field]

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The verb has an ‘s’ before the ‘e’. The noun has a ‘c’
before the ‘e’.

Avoiding confusion
Other words that are often confused are ‘council’ and
‘counsel’, ‘compliment’ and ‘complement‘, ‘principle’ and
‘principal’ and ‘stationery’ and ‘stationary’.

Council/counsel
1. A council (noun) is an administrative group which has
power to make decisions.
A councillor (noun) sits on a council (noun).
2. To counsel (verb) someone is to help them by listening to
them and giving them advice.
A counsellor (noun) counsels (verb) clients.

Compliment/complement
1. A compliment (noun) is an expression of praise.
‘He paid me a compliment today.’
2. To complement (verb) means to complete the whole.
‘Your scarf complements that dress beautifully.’

Principal/principle
1. A principal (noun) is the head of a college.
‘The Principal was very pleased with the students’ work.’
2. Principal can also be an adjective meaning main or chief.
‘The principal (adjective) boy in the pantomime was
played by Joan.’
3. A principle (noun) is a standard you maintain.
‘In spite of difficulties, she always kept to her principles
(noun).’