are comprised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are comprised" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is a verb phrase used for describing inclusion or being part of a larger group or whole. For example: "The store's inventory are comprised of imported products from foreign countries."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Many organs are comprised of all three germinal layers.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The quizzes are comprised of a series of questions about my so-called "friends".

The New Yorker

But groups are comprised of individuals with names and faces and stories to tell.

The Guardian

The Taliban are comprised almost entirely ethnic Pashtuns, the country's largest group.

The New Yorker

Eurovision scores are comprised of rankings made by appointed jury members in combination with a popular televote.

The New Yorker

They're small units that are comprised mostly of military people, although they do have civilian members, too.

The New Yorker

The Wilkinson Family are comprised of Uncle Henry, a dentist, Aunt Maud, boy scout Eric and Grandma.

The Guardian

"These videos almost always are comprised of old video footage that is edited together to make a new video".

The New York Times

All classes are comprised of ambulant athletes.

BBC

Multi-identities are comprised of many things.

International Journal of Anthropology and Ethnology

Like any community, we are comprised of many different people.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are comprised of" when you want to emphasize the constituent parts of a whole. Ensure that the subject clearly identifies the complete entity, and the phrase specifies its components.

Common error

Avoid using "are comprised by" unless you intend to convey that the subject is being contained or surrounded by the objects mentioned. "Are comprised of" is generally the preferred construction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are comprised" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject is made up of certain elements or components. It shows the relationship between a whole and its parts, similar to examples found in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are comprised" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase that describes the composition of something. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English writing. It's important to use it actively when highlighting the elements that constitute a whole, as in "The team members are comprised of talented people". While "are comprised by" exists, it's generally less common and can be awkward. Instead, it's better to use alternatives like "consist of" or "are composed of". Overall, "are comprised" is common across scientific, news, and formal contexts, establishing it as a reliable choice for expressing composition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

consist of

Uses a different verb to express the idea of being made up of.

are composed of

Employs a synonym for 'comprised' while maintaining the passive voice.

are made up of

Offers a more informal way to convey the same meaning.

include

Focuses on the act of containing elements rather than the overall composition.

contain

Highlights the presence of certain elements within a whole.

are formed from

Emphasizes the process of creation or assembly.

are constructed from

Suggests a more structured or deliberate assembly process.

are built from

Similar to "are constructed from" but may imply a more gradual process.

constitute

Indicates the act of forming or composing a whole.

are encompassed by

Highlights that it is one of the elements of a broader grouping.

FAQs

How do I use "are comprised" in a sentence?

Use "are comprised" to indicate what elements constitute a whole. For example, "The team members are comprised of talented people".

What's a good alternative to "are comprised of"?

You can use alternatives like "consist of", "are composed of", or "are made up of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "are comprised by" instead of "are comprised of"?

While grammatically viable, "are comprised by" is less common and often awkward. "Are comprised of" is generally the preferred construction, unless you mean something is contained by something else.

What is the difference between "are comprised of" and "constitute"?

"Are comprised of" emphasizes the components, while "constitute" emphasizes the act of forming the whole. For example, "The parts are comprised of metal" vs. "The parts constitute the machine".