be comprised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be comprised" is not correct in standard written English; the correct form is "be composed of." You can use "be composed of" when describing the elements or parts that make up a whole.
Example: "The committee is composed of five members from different departments."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The Army could easily be comprised of 5% women.

The New Yorker

Casts will be comprised of your own avatars; you will be the star".

The Guardian

The year will be comprised of 39 work weeks and 13 weeks of vacation...

The New Yorker

Juries are not meant to be comprised of 12 Jeremy Clarkson think-alikes.

The Guardian - Opinion

It will be comprised of 54 Republicans, 44 Democrats and two independents.

The Guardian

Whatever it has to be comprised of, we will have a team in the 2012 Olympics," Triesman said.

The Guardian - Sport

It's on a par with Cheryl Cole deciding that her next album will be comprised of Northumbrian fishing shanties".

The Guardian - Music

Class sessions will be comprised of a combination of lectures, seminar discussions, and guest speakers.

Stanford University

The selection committee will be comprised of faculty of the Historic Preservation program.

Columbia University

The group for spring tour this year will be comprised of about 45 male college students.

Harvard University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The chamber-to-throat section ratio must be comprised between 5 and 10.

Sensors and Actuators A: Physical

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "be comprised of" in your writing. Instead, use "be composed of", "consist of", or "be made up of" for grammatical correctness.

Common error

Many writers incorrectly use "be comprised of" when they mean "be composed of." Remember that the whole comprises the parts, but the parts compose the whole. Therefore, prefer using alternatives like "be composed of" or "consist of" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be comprised" functions as a passive verb phrase, typically used to describe the composition of something. However, Ludwig AI indicates that this construction is grammatically incorrect. While frequently used, alternatives such as "be composed of" are preferred.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Academia

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "be comprised" is frequently encountered, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect. The intended meaning is to describe what elements constitute a whole, but the correct alternatives are "be composed of", "consist of", or "be made up of". Despite its prevalence across various contexts like news, academia, and science, writers should aim for grammatical precision and favor the recommended alternatives, especially in formal writing. The persistence of "be comprised" highlights a common point of confusion between "comprise" and "compose"; remember that the whole comprises the parts, while the parts compose the whole.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be composed of

Emphasizes the act of forming a whole by putting parts together.

consist of

Highlights the elements that constitute a whole, focusing on what something contains.

be made up of

Suggests the parts contribute to the whole's existence or identity.

include

Indicates that certain elements are part of a larger group or collection without necessarily implying they are the only components.

contain

Focuses on what a whole holds within it.

be constituted by

Highlights the elements that formally establish or create a whole.

be formed from

Focuses on the source materials or elements used to create something.

be constructed from

Emphasizes the process of building or assembling something from its parts.

encompass

Indicates a broad inclusion of various elements or aspects.

incorporate

Suggests the act of integrating specific elements into a larger structure or system.

FAQs

What's the correct way to use "comprise"?

Use "comprise" to indicate that a whole includes its parts. For example, "The team comprises five members". The parts compose the whole; the whole comprises the parts.

What can I say instead of "be comprised of"?

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

Is it correct to say "is comprised of"?

No, "is comprised of" is generally considered incorrect. The correct phrasing is "is composed of", "consists of", or "is made up of".

What's the difference between "comprise" and "compose"?

"Comprise" means to include or contain; the whole comprises its parts. "Compose" means to make up or constitute; the parts compose the whole. Therefore, "The whole is composed of its parts", or, "The whole comprises its parts".