comprising both

USAGE SUMMARY

"comprising both" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to refer to two related, but distinct, items or elements. For example: "She designed a dress comprising both classical and modern elements."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(A two-DVD set comprising both films is available online from stylewars.com).

The New York Times

Yet only 16% of the voices heard on the "Today" programme — comprising both contributors and presenters — are women's.

The Guardian

Among 89 regions comprising both membrane projections and intercellular junctions, 13 displayed positive FRET efficiency (14.6%) above thresholding of 5%.

Nature

Mixed boundary conditions comprising both traction and displacement boundary conditions are applied on the structure boundaries.

Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials

Twenty-six nurses, comprising both students and assessors were interviewed in this part of the study.

Nurse Education Today

A much smaller audience – comprising both adults and children - was also asked to vote for their Puffin of Puffins at the Guardian Hay festival earlier this month.

The Guardian - Books

The tiny Dutch colony had by 1870 hatched into a metropolis (comprising both New York and Brooklyn, still separate cities) of 1.3 million.

The New York Times

Thus, 3D carbon-based networks comprising both sufficient mechanical strength and very high porosity are desirable, but this is a challenging task in 3D cellular networks.

Nature

The administration's political appointees should seek to shorten this cycle by creating departmental and agency leadership teams comprising both political appointees and career executives.

The Washington Post

The State Board of Education, comprising both elected and appointed members, selects a superintendent of public instruction, who heads the Ohio Department of Education.

Britannica

It has therefore been suggested that combination therapies targeting both pathways may maximize therapeutic efficacy across patient populations comprising both TH2 and TH17 endoTH17s24.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "comprising both" to clearly indicate that a whole is made up of two specific and distinct components. This avoids ambiguity and enhances clarity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "comprising both" when a simpler phrasing like "including" or "and" would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "comprising both" functions as a descriptive modifier, specifying the composition of a subject. It indicates that the subject is made up of two distinct elements. Ludwig confirms this usage through numerous real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "comprising both" is a versatile phrase used to indicate that something consists of two specific and distinct elements. As confirmed by Ludwig, it functions as a descriptive modifier, providing clarity and precision in various contexts, from scientific articles to news reports. While grammatically correct and widely used, it's important to avoid overuse in simple sentences where more direct phrasing would suffice. The phrase appears most frequently in scientific and news media sources, indicating a formal to neutral register. By understanding its function and purpose, you can effectively incorporate "comprising both" into your writing to enhance clarity and avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

including both

This alternative is a more direct synonym, emphasizing the act of inclusion.

encompassing both

This suggests a broader scope of inclusion, implying completeness.

incorporating both

This highlights the integration of the elements into a unified whole.

consisting of both

This focuses on the composition of the whole from its parts.

composed of both

This emphasizes the structure and arrangement of the included elements.

integrating both

This stresses the process of combining the elements.

containing both

This simply states the presence of both elements within a container.

embracing both

This suggests a more enthusiastic and inclusive approach.

featuring both

This highlights the inclusion of the elements as notable characteristics.

having both

This is a simpler and more general way to indicate the possession of both elements.

FAQs

How can I use "comprising both" in a sentence?

Use "comprising both" to indicate that something consists of two distinct parts or elements. For example, "The committee, "comprising both" elected and appointed members, will review the proposal."

What are some alternatives to "comprising both"?

You can use alternatives such as "including both", "encompassing both", or "incorporating both" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "comprising of both"?

Yes, saying "comprising of both" is often considered redundant. The word "comprising" already implies inclusion, so adding "of" is unnecessary. Stick to ""comprising both"" for clarity and conciseness.

What's the difference between "comprising both" and "including both"?

"Comprising both" suggests that the listed items make up the entirety of something, while "including both" implies that there may be other unlisted components as well. Thus, ""comprising both"" is more exclusive, and "including both" is more inclusive.