text: what word goes best with the word complaint? should i say lodged a complaint or made a complaint or registered a complaint.  or, is there any other word that i can use before the word "complaint"? it depends on the circumstances. if you make your complaint orally or informally, it is quite acceptable to say you made a complaint. on the other hand, if you complain by completing a formal complaint in writing, like a form for example, then you can say you lodged or registered it.