comprised

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "comprised" is a valid word in written English.
You can use it to indicate that a group or collection is made up of several smaller parts or elements. For example, "Our team is comprised of engineers, programmers, and designers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I expected that some would object to my participation in an annual forum that is largely comprised of softball questions to a leader unaccustomed to being challenged.

The Guardian - Opinion

But, comprised of men at their peak and beyond, it soon needed refreshing, as Busby knew it would – time and money had already been invested into a youth system with Jimmy Murphy recruited to run it.

The Guardian - Sport

Those who went down on the Hunley comprised the third crew of the submarine.

The Guardian

The gang suspected of being behind the murder is comprised of former LVF members and drug dealers.

The Guardian

He now leads an opposition coalition, the People's Alliance, comprised of three disparate political parties - his own People's Justice party, the Islamic party PAS and the secular, largely Chinese-based Democratic Action party – which won a record number of parliamentary seats and five of the state governments in the March 2008 polls.

The Guardian - Opinion

They crafted a mixtape for Calvert Journal this month, comprised almost exclusively of Russian producers because "Russian electronic music is developing really quickly and is in quite a good place at the moment".

The Guardian

The detained group, which comprised 37 Sinhalese and four Tamils, appeared before a magistrates court in the southern Sri Lankan city of Galle on Tuesday morning, charged with leaving the country illegally.

The Guardian

A second protest has been organised by "Eirigi", a relatively new republican pressure group comprised of many former disillusioned Sinn Féin members opposed to the party's participation in government with the DUP and its new support for policing.

The Guardian

Collaborating with computer programmer Mark Havryliv, the pair made a "gestural electronic drumkit" comprised of a 3D timbral theremin and a pair of controllers.

The Guardian - Music

The mood music for a general election that is comprised of 650 separate races.

The Guardian

It, in effect it says that fines and community penalties are abolished for rioters and suspends the carefully constructed sentencing process comprised in the guidelines, which would inevitably result in some non-custodial penalties.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "comprised" to clearly indicate the elements that constitute a whole, ensuring that the subject is the whole and the object is the parts. For example: The team is comprised of engineers, designers, and analysts.

Common error

Avoid using "comprised of". The correct usage is "comprised" without "of". For example, say "The group comprised five members" instead of "The group was comprised of five members".

Linguistic Context

The word "comprised" functions primarily as a verb (past participle) indicating the elements or parts that constitute a whole. Ludwig AI confirms its usage in sentences where it specifies the composition of something, as seen in the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Formal & Business

26%

Science

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "comprised" is a verb used to indicate what something consists of. While often used with "of", the preferred form is typically without it, though opinions vary. Ludwig's analysis, supported by numerous real-world examples, shows that the word is widely used in news, formal business settings, and scientific contexts. Alternatives such as "made up of", "composed of", and "consisting of" can be used to express a similar meaning. Remember to use "comprised" when the subject is the whole and the object is the parts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

made up of

Focuses on the elements that constitute the whole, emphasizing the act of forming something.

composed of

Highlights the arrangement and combination of elements to form a unified entity.

consisting of

Emphasizes the elements that are present or included in something.

constituted by

Implies that the elements define the nature or essence of the whole.

including

Indicates that the listed items are part of a larger group or collection.

containing

Highlights the presence of specific elements within something.

encompassing

Suggests a comprehensive inclusion of various elements.

incorporating

Implies the integration of different parts into a single structure.

featuring

Highlights prominent or noteworthy components.

formed from

Focuses on the process by which something is created from specific components.

FAQs

How do you use "comprised" in a sentence?

Use "comprised" to indicate what something consists of. For instance, "The committee comprised five members". Remember that the whole comprises the parts, not the other way around.

Is it correct to say "comprised of"?

While commonly used, "comprised of" is often considered incorrect. The preferred form is "comprised" without the "of". For instance, use "The cake comprised flour, sugar, and eggs" instead of "The cake was comprised of flour, sugar, and eggs".

What can I say instead of "comprised"?

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

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

"Composed of" is generally considered more acceptable. While "comprised" alone is technically correct, "composed of" is often preferred in modern usage. Alternatively, consider "made up of".