Meaning & use
supplementary information
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Meanings
noununcountable
Extra facts or details added to something to make it more complete.
Grammar: Uncountable, so it has no plural and takes a singular verb: 'The supplementary information is useful.'
Patterns
- supplementary information about something
- provide supplementary information
- additional supplementary information
The report includes supplementary information about the survey methods.
Please send any supplementary information to the committee by Friday.
The website offers supplementary information for each chapter of the textbook.
noununcountableformal
Extra documents or data supplied with a formal report or application.
Grammar: Often used in official contexts; can be followed by 'on' or 'about'.
Patterns
- supplementary information on something
- attach supplementary information
- request supplementary information
The applicant attached supplementary information on her work experience.
The journal asks authors to submit supplementary information separately.
For more details, see the supplementary information at the end of the report.
Common combinations
- provide supplementary information
- The teacher provided supplementary information to help with the project.
- additional supplementary information
- We need additional supplementary information before we can decide.
- supplementary information about
- She gave supplementary information about the costs involved.
- request supplementary information
- The bank may request supplementary information from you.
Synonyms and how they differ
- additional information
- More general and neutral; 'supplementary information' often suggests it completes or supports something.
- extra details
- Less formal and often smaller in amount; use it for everyday situations.
Word family
- supplement noun
- Something added to improve or complete something.
- supplement verb
- To add something extra to improve or complete it.
- supplementary adjective
- Added to complete or support something.
Commonly confused: supplementary information or complementary?
supplementary information vs complementary
Complementary means completing something in a way that makes it better, while supplementary means added extra. 'Complementary information' is not a common phrase.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'supplementary information' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 2 is correct because 'supplementary information' is uncountable and can follow 'some'. Option 0 is wrong because an uncountable noun does not take 'a'. Option 1 is wrong because it takes a singular verb. Option 3 is wrong because the phrase is not a verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “supplementary information”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.