be comprised of

USAGE SUMMARY

"be comprised of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the phrase "be comprised of" to indicate that something contains a number of parts, components, or elements. For example, "The task force was comprised of experts from multiple backgrounds."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 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

The Central Valley will never be comprised of lots of tiny farms.

The New York Times

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

The New Yorker

Given that an alternative Irish government is likely to be comprised of Fine Gael and Labour, the prospect of a referendum on abortion could prove divisive.

The Guardian

The outcome means that when Congress reconvenes in January, the Senate will be comprised of 54 Republicans, 44 Democrats and two independents.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Remember that "comprise" in its active form means 'to include' or 'contain'. Therefore, it's often more precise to use the passive form "be comprised of" when you mean 'to consist of'.

Common error

A common mistake is using "comprise of" instead of "be comprised of". "Comprise" means to include or contain, so the parts comprise the whole, not the other way around. Always use the passive voice when indicating what something consists of.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be comprised of" functions as a passive verb phrase followed by a preposition. It indicates that something is made up of specific parts or elements. This construction is used to describe the composition of a whole, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be comprised of" is a widely used and grammatically correct phrase that describes the composition of something. As Ludwig AI points out, it’s best used in the passive voice to clearly indicate that something consists of specific elements. Although common in news, science, and formal business contexts, writers should be mindful of avoiding confusion with the active voice. Alternatives such as "consist of" or "be made up of" can provide simpler options while ensuring clarity and grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be composed of

Similar meaning but focuses more on the act of composing or putting elements together.

consist of

A more direct and common way of saying that something is made up of specific parts.

be made up of

An informal and straightforward way to express composition.

be constituted by

A more formal and structural way to describe how something is formed.

include

Implies that something contains certain elements, but might have others as well. It does not fully represent the complete composition.

be formed of

Highlights the process of formation and the materials used.

contain

Suggests that something holds or has certain elements within it.

incorporate

Focuses on the act of bringing elements together into a unified whole.

encompass

Indicates that something includes a wide range of elements or aspects.

be built from

Suggests a construction or assembly process using specific materials.

FAQs

How can I use "be comprised of" in a sentence?

Use "be comprised of" to indicate the elements that constitute a whole. For example, "The committee will "be composed of" members from various departments".

What are some alternatives to "be comprised of"?

You can use alternatives such as "consist of", "be made up of", or "include depending on the context".

Which is correct, "comprised of" or "comprises"?

"Comprised of" is the past participle form used in passive constructions (e.g., "The team is comprised of experts"). "Comprises" is the third-person singular present tense form (e.g., "The team comprises experts").

What's the difference between "be comprised of" and "consist of"?

While both indicate composition, "be comprised of" suggests that the listed items make up the entirety of the whole, while "consist of" can imply that there might be other unmentioned elements.