comprise of

USAGE SUMMARY

"comprise of" is not correct and should not be used in written English.
The correct phrase is "comprise." For example, "The team comprises five members."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Structural adjustment plans for the west, it seems, comprise of nationalisation, subsidisation and re-regulation.

The Guardian - Business

They would comprise of families or unaccompanied minors and a new site to house them had been chosen, he said.

The Guardian

It is unclear whether this attack would comprise of a further ground offensive or continued airstrikes.

Independent

The colloidal dispersions comprise of independent layers.

Carbon

Three wheelers comprise of passenger carriers and goods carriers.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

These industries comprise of 12 nature of business.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

Landscapes commonly comprise of mosaics, patches and boundaries.

Acta Oecologica

Microcapsules comprise of an internal core material and an external encapsulating shell material.

Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy

The reaction stream may comprise of a mixture of reactants instead of same carbon number reactant.

Applied Petrochemical Research

By definition, total dissolved solids comprise of all organic and inorganic matter in a water sample.

Applied Water Science

In bacteria, the classical secretion pathways comprise of Sec, Tat, and lipoprotein signal peptide.

AMB Express

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "comprise of". Use "comprise" alone to mean 'to consist of' or 'to be made up of'. For example, instead of "The team comprises of five members", write "The team comprises five members".

Common error

Don't add 'of' after "comprise". The word "comprise" already includes the meaning of 'consisting of'. Adding 'of' is redundant and grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "comprise of" functions as a verb phrase intended to describe the composition of something. However, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms that the correct form is simply "comprise" without the "of".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

59%

News & Media

26%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "comprise of" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct usage is simply "comprise". While "comprise of" appears frequently in various sources according to Ludwig, including scientific and news media, it's important to adhere to standard grammar rules. Better alternatives include "consist of" or "be composed of" which offer grammatically sound ways to express composition. As Ludwig AI clearly states, "comprise of" should be avoided in favor of its more grammatically correct counterpart, "comprise".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

consist of

This is a more common and grammatically correct alternative. It emphasizes the elements that make up a whole.

be composed of

This passive construction highlights the elements that form something.

be made up of

Similar to "be composed of", this phrase is informal and emphasizes the parts that constitute a whole.

include

This verb indicates that something is part of a larger group or set.

contain

This suggests that something holds or encompasses certain elements.

encompass

This implies that something includes a wide range of elements or aspects.

constitute

This verb focuses on the elements that form or establish something.

form

This verb stresses the act of creating or establishing something from different components.

incorporate

This verb means to include something as part of a larger whole.

embody

This verb means to give a concrete form to; express, personify, or exemplify in concrete form.

FAQs

How can I use "comprise" correctly in a sentence?

Use "comprise" to indicate that something is made up of its parts, without adding "of". For example: "The committee comprises ten members".

What's the difference between "comprise" and "consist of"?

"Comprise" means 'to include' or 'to be made up of', while "consist of" means 'to be composed of'. You can say 'The whole comprises the parts' or 'The parts consist of elements'. The second one is the most common.

Is it ever correct to use "comprised of"?

Yes, "comprised of" is correct when used as a passive construction. For example: "The committee is comprised of experts from various fields".

What are some alternatives to "be made up of"?

Alternatives include "consist of", "be composed of", or simply "comprise", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.