IMPROVING YOUR STYLE / 81 The verb has an ‘s’ before the ‘e’. The noun has a ‘c’ before the ‘e’. Other words that are often confused are ‘council’ and ‘counsel’, ‘compliment’ and ‘complement‘, ‘principle’ and ‘principal’ and ‘stationery’ and ‘stationary’. A councillor ( noun ) sits on a council ( noun ). A counsellor ( noun ) counsels ( verb ) clients. ‘He paid me a compliment today.’ ‘Your scarf complements that dress beautifully.’ ‘The Principal was very pleased with the students’ work.’ ‘The principal ( adjective ) boy in the pantomime was played by Joan.’ ‘In spite of difficulties, she always kept to her principles ( noun ).’ 1. A council ( noun ) is an administrative group which has power to make decisions. 2. To counsel ( verb ) someone is to help them by listening to them and giving them advice. 1. A compliment ( noun ) is an expression of praise. 2. To complement ( verb ) means to complete the whole. 1. A principal ( noun ) is the head of a college. 2. Principal can also be an adjective meaning main or chief. 3. A principle ( noun ) is a standard you maintain. Principal/principle Compliment/complement Council/counsel Avoiding confusion