comprised of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "comprised of" is often considered incorrect in formal written English.
It is commonly used in informal contexts to describe the components that make up a whole. Example: "The committee is comprised of five members, each representing a different department."

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

* Not comprised of.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"GE's is comprised of individual pieces.

The Economist

The thigh is comprised of what?

The New York Times - Sports

Your audience is comprised of people, right?

The New Yorker

The previous coalition government was comprised of 18 parties.

The New York Times

The kitchen is comprised of a bank of three toasters.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The Army could easily be comprised of 5% women.

The New Yorker

The etymology of the word does not support "comprised of".

The Guardian - Opinion

Each is comprised of complex combinations of individual beats.

The New York Times

"Is Nickelodeon comprised of a management of children?" he said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

It's [comprised of] much smaller groups," St-Pierre said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "comprised of" is common, especially in less formal contexts, opt for alternatives like "made up of" or "composed of" in formal writing to avoid grammatical disputes.

Common error

Avoid using "comprised of" when you mean "composes." "Comprise" means 'to consist of,' so the whole comprises the parts. The parts don't comprise the whole. For example, it's better to say 'The team comprises five members' than 'The team is comprised of five members' in very formal writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "comprised of" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun, indicating the elements or parts that constitute the noun. It specifies the components or ingredients that make up a whole, as seen in Ludwig's examples such as 'The team is comprised of 6 people, including founders.'

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "comprised of" is a common way to express that something consists of specific elements. However, it is often debated in formal writing contexts due to grammatical concerns, with alternatives like "made up of" or "composed of" being preferred. Ludwig's data shows it's widely used in news, science, and business, but writers should be mindful of their audience and the level of formality required. As Ludwig AI indicates, while widely accepted, considering alternative phrasing can improve clarity and grammatical precision in formal contexts. While it is "Acceptable", carefully consider the context and audience when deciding whether to use the term.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

made up of

A more informal and widely accepted alternative, focusing on the components that constitute something.

consisting of

A grammatically sound alternative that describes the elements something is formed from.

composed of

Similar to "comprised of" but often considered more grammatically correct, suggesting an arrangement of parts.

constituted of

A more formal option highlighting the elements that legally or structurally form something.

including

Specifies that something contains certain items as part of a larger group.

containing

Indicates that something holds or includes specific elements.

incorporating

Highlights the act of including elements as an integral part of a whole.

encompassing

Suggests that something includes a wide range of elements.

formed from

Focuses on the materials or processes used to create something.

built upon

Emphasizes a foundational structure or base from which something is developed.

FAQs

What does "comprised of" mean?

The phrase "comprised of" means 'consisting of' or 'made up of'. It indicates the components or elements that constitute a whole.

Is "comprised of" grammatically correct?

While widely used, "comprised of" is often considered incorrect in formal writing. Alternatives like "made up of" or "composed of" are generally preferred.

What can I say instead of "comprised of"?

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

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

The word "comprises" means 'consists of'. Therefore, the whole "comprises" the parts. "Comprised of" is often avoided in formal writing because it can be misused. For example, say 'The committee comprises five members' instead of 'The committee is comprised of five members'.