comprise solely of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "comprise solely of" is not correct in English.
The correct form is "comprise solely" or "consist solely of." You can use it when you want to indicate that something is made up entirely of specific elements or components. Example: "The committee will comprise solely of experts in the field."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Their stance means that the squad is likely to comprise solely of English players, although Tottenham's Welsh winger Gareth Bale has indicated his desire to be involved.

BBC

At £35 a ticket, and with a bill that seemed to comprise solely of Reverend & The Makers, Owen Jones and indie minnows Hookworms, it was obvious what their problem was: everything.

Vice

Interestingly, fusion transcripts have also been found to be formed between mitochondrial DNA with nuclear DNA, occurring at a similar frequency as fusion transcripts that comprise solely of nuclear DNA [ 20].

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

It shouldn't really be surprising that the women's team is comprised solely of Scots.

The Guardian - Sport

A slim, gorgeous-looking volume, comprising solely of The Metamorphosis and a thought-provoking introduction by David Cronenberg.

The Guardian - Books

Now in their eighth year, the UKLA book awards are unique in being the only book awards where the judging panel is comprised solely of teachers.

The Guardian

Mexico will attempt to qualify for Brazil with a team comprised solely of domestic league-based players – a surprising blast to the past.

The Guardian - Sport

This will allow us to fund a greater number of national portfolio organisations than we could have done with a budget comprising solely of grant in aid.

The Guardian

Surely its viewership is comprised solely of reactionary crinklies who just want to hear people grumble about "the yoof of today" for the best part of an hour?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Other endeavours since then have included recording cover versions of foreign songs in phonetic English and curating a DJ mix comprised solely of field recordings.

The Guardian - Music

David Cameron began to form his first government comprised solely of Conservative cabinet members on Friday after being delivered an overall Commons majority by a tumultuous election.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for grammatical precision, avoid "comprise solely of". Instead, opt for "comprise solely" or "consist solely of" to maintain clarity and correctness in your writing.

Common error

Many writers incorrectly use "comprise solely of" due to a misunderstanding of the word "comprise". Remember that "comprise" means 'to consist of,' so adding "solely of" creates a redundant phrase. Stick to "comprise solely" for accurate usage.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "comprise solely of" functions as a modifier, aiming to specify the composition of something. However, according to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "comprise solely of" aims to express that something is exclusively made up of certain elements, it is considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests that the correct alternatives are "comprise solely" or "consist solely of". Despite its presence in some news and scientific sources, writers should aim for grammatical precision and prefer the recommended alternatives to ensure clarity and accuracy in their writing. The limited number of examples further suggests that this phrase is not widely used.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

comprise solely

Omits "of", correcting the grammatical error while retaining the meaning.

consist solely of

Replaces "comprise" with "consist", providing a grammatically sound alternative.

be composed entirely of

Uses a passive construction with "composed entirely" to convey the same meaning.

consist exclusively of

Substitutes "solely" with "exclusively", offering a synonym with similar implications.

be entirely comprised of

Changes the word order while maintaining the original words, but corrects the grammar.

be made up entirely of

Employs a more informal but equivalent phrasing.

be exclusively composed of

Inverts the structure and uses "exclusively composed" for emphasis.

include only

A more concise way of expressing the same concept, focusing on inclusion.

contain only

Similar to "include only", but emphasizes containment.

be limited to

Indicates that the contents or elements are restricted to a specific set.

FAQs

Is "comprise solely of" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "comprise solely of" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct usage is either "comprise solely" or "consist solely of". The word "comprise" already implies that it includes all parts, so adding "of" after "solely" is redundant.

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

Both phrases have a similar meaning, indicating that something is made up entirely of specific elements. "Comprise solely" is more concise, while "consist solely of" is slightly more verbose but equally correct. Choose based on the desired tone and style of your writing.

What can I say instead of "comprise solely of"?

You can use alternatives like "comprise solely", "consist solely of", or "be "composed entirely of"" depending on the context.

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

To use "comprise solely" correctly, ensure that it clearly indicates that something is made up entirely of the listed elements. For example: "The committee will comprise solely experts in the field."