existed of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "existed of" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not usable in any context as it does not convey a clear meaning. Example: "The ancient civilization existed of various cultures and traditions." (This is incorrect.)

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He would have been admirable, except that he was an absolute egomaniac, a Beast — no recognition existed of the existence of anything beyond the range of his reach".

The New York Times - Books

Had it lacked a sufficient reason to explain its existence (and implicitly its contingency), the world for Leibniz would have existed of necessity.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Whatever existed of their actual internet profiles had to be deleted or made private.

The Guardian - Tech

(Independent narrative filmmaking hardly existed, of course, in the age of classic Hollywood).

The New Yorker

It also alleged that video footage existed of a Nauruan "engaging in a drug deal" at the detention centre.

The Guardian

But the committee which questioned her was unaware of the mountain of evidence that existed of wrongdoing at HSBC itself.

The Guardian - Business

And there are the usual nods to a past that never existed, of deference, Empire and the monarchy.

The Guardian

A craft lore existed, of pen nibs, fine brushes, blue pencils, art-gum erasers, whiteout, and Higgins India ink.

The New Yorker

FLW Of course, in my youth, nothing existed of the sort that I wanted to see happen.

The Guardian - Arts

The exuberance at his return drowned out whatever protests existed of the deal that was made to bring him home.

The New York Times - Magazine

A year later, in July 2011, Jonathan Chasan, a Legal Aid lawyer, asked whether any video existed of the incident.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the composition of something, use the phrase "consisted of" or "was made up of" for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "existed of" when you mean "consisted of". "Existed" refers to being or existing, while "consisted" refers to the components of something. For example, instead of "The team existed of five members", say "The team consisted of five members".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "existed of" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. It attempts to combine the verb "existed", which indicates being or occurrence, with a preposition to describe composition, but this usage is not recognized. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "existed of" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in favor of alternatives like "consisted of" or "was made up of". While some examples can be found across different sources, including news and scientific articles, its use is not standard and can lead to confusion. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment, highlighting the importance of using grammatically sound alternatives to convey the intended meaning of composition or constitution effectively. Opting for correct alternatives enhances clarity and professionalism in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

consisted of

This is the most direct and grammatically correct substitute, indicating what something is composed of.

was composed of

Offers a passive voice alternative, still indicating the elements that make up something.

was made up of

A more informal phrasing that conveys the same meaning of composition.

comprised of

Similar to "consisted of" but can sometimes imply a complete enumeration of parts.

included

Indicates that something contained certain elements, though perhaps not exclusively.

contained

Similar to 'included', suggesting the presence of elements within a whole.

was formed of

Focuses on the process of formation or assembly.

was structured with

Highlights the arrangement or organization of components.

embodied

Suggests that something represents or incorporates certain qualities or elements.

encompassed

Implies a broader inclusion or coverage of elements.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say something was composed of certain elements?

The correct phrasing is to say it "consisted of" those elements. For example, "The committee consisted of five members" is correct, while "The committee existed of five members" is not.

What can I use instead of "existed of" to describe what something is made of?

Instead of "existed of", use alternatives like "consisted of", "was made up of", or "comprised of". These are grammatically correct and convey the intended meaning clearly.

Is "existed of" ever a correct phrase to use?

No, "existed of" is not a standard or grammatically correct phrase in English. It's best to avoid it and use more appropriate alternatives like "consisted of".

Which is the difference between "existed of" and "consisted of"?

"Existed" means to be or to live, while "consisted" means to be composed or made up of. The phrase "existed of" is incorrect because it tries to combine these meanings in a way that doesn't align with standard English grammar. Use "consisted of" to accurately describe composition.