are of

USAGE SUMMARY

'are of' is not correct or usable in written English.
If you are trying to make a comparison or reference, you can use the phrase 'are of the same' or 'are of a similar'. Example sentence: The two cakes are of the same flavor.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Many are, of course.

The New York Times

Few are, of course.

The New York Times

They are of no consequence.

Independent

Some are of historical interest.

The Economist

"They are, of course, not.

The Economist

are of contact-metamorphic origin.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Stocks are, of course, risky.

The New York Times

(There are, of course, supertitles).

The New York Times

Most are of Mexican origin.

The New York Times

They are, of course, Irish.

The Economist

There are, of course, nonbelievers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the composition of something, use "are made of" instead of "are of" for better clarity and grammatical correctness. For instance, say "The walls are made of brick" instead of "The walls are of brick".

Common error

Avoid using "are of" to indicate possession. Instead, use the possessive form "belong to" or "possess". For example, instead of saying "These ideas are of John", say "These ideas belong to John".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are of" is frequently used to express relationships between entities, often indicating composition, origin, or characteristics. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect, suggesting that alternative constructions like "are made of" or "consist of" are preferable for greater clarity and correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "are of" appears frequently across diverse sources such as news articles, encyclopedias, and scientific publications, it is flagged by Ludwig AI as grammatically incorrect. Although it is widely used to indicate relationships of composition, origin, or characteristics, better alternatives include phrases like "are made of", "consist of", or more specific verbs like "exhibit" or "display", especially in formal writing. To enhance clarity and grammatical accuracy, consider replacing "are of" with these alternatives, and be mindful of the context to choose the most appropriate substitute.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are made of

Emphasizes the materials or components used in construction.

consist of

Replaces "are of" when indicating composition or inclusion.

are characterized by

Focuses on the defining attributes or features.

originate from

Specifies the source or beginning of something.

stem from

Similar to 'originate from', but often used for abstract concepts.

derive from

Implies a process of obtaining or developing from a source.

possess

Indicates ownership or qualities that something inherently has.

are known for

Highlights the prominent or recognized aspects.

display

Similar to 'exhibit', but focuses on visual or noticeable traits.

exhibit

Highlights the demonstration or display of specific characteristics.

FAQs

How can I use "are made of" instead of "are of"?

Use "are made of" when you want to describe the materials something is composed of. For example, instead of saying "The table is of wood", say "The table "is made of" wood".

What are some alternatives to "are of" when describing characteristics?

When describing characteristics, you can use phrases like "are characterized by", "exhibit", or "display" for more grammatically sound sentences.

Which is correct, "are of" or "are made of"?

"are made of" is generally correct when describing the materials something is composed of. Ludwig AI identifies "are of" as grammatically incorrect in most contexts.

What's the difference between "are of" and "originate from"?

"Originate from" is used to indicate the source or origin of something, while "are of" is often misused in similar contexts. For instance, "These traditions "originate from" ancient cultures" is a better construction.