it was composed by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was composed by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the author or creator of a piece of music, literature, or any other work. Example: "The symphony was a masterpiece, and it was composed by Beethoven."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It was composed by famed Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu.

Wikipedia

It was composed by Garry Schyman, the first non-Japanese composer for the series or any other major Square Enix series.

Wikipedia

It was composed by chance.

The New Yorker

It was composed by Mlle.

The New Yorker

And it was composed by men who tended toward glumness.

The New York Times

It was composed by my pet baboon, Juniper.

The New Yorker

It was composed by Nat Simon, not by Mr. Jamal.

The New York Times

It was composed by Cyril Thorne, a long-forgotten musician who wrote mood music.

The Guardian

It was composed by Kjartan Sveinsson, a former member of the Icelandic rock band Sigur Rós.

The New Yorker

It was composed by Hollywood writers and performed on a Manhattan soundstage.

The New York Times - Arts

I was nearly deaf to anything that wasn't composed by Lennon and McCartney, unless it was composed by Brian Wilson.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was composed by" to clearly and directly attribute the creation of a work to its composer, especially in contexts where precision and authority are important.

Common error

Avoid using "it was composed by" when referring to something that was merely performed or interpreted by someone. Composition specifically refers to the act of creating the original work.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was composed by" functions as a passive construction used to attribute the creation of a work (typically music, literature, or art) to its originator. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a grammatically sound and common way to express authorship.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was composed by" serves as a grammatically correct and frequently used passive construction to attribute authorship, particularly in the realms of music, literature, and art. Analysis of its usage across diverse sources, as highlighted by Ludwig, reveals its prevalence in news media, encyclopedias, and scientific publications. While generally neutral, the phrase carries a degree of formality, suitable for contexts that demand precision and authoritative tone. Understanding the nuances of "it was composed by", including its appropriate application and potential alternatives like "it was created by" or "it was written by", allows for clear and accurate communication about creative origins.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was created by

Replaces "composed" with the more general term "created", broadening the scope beyond just musical or written works.

it was written by

Focuses specifically on written works, replacing "composed" with "written".

it was authored by

A more formal alternative to "written by", often used in academic or professional contexts.

it was made by

A simple and general alternative, suitable for various types of creations.

the composer was

Shifts the focus to the composer, making it an active rather than passive construction.

the author was

Similar to the previous one but focused on the author.

the creator was

A more general alternative to the previous ones, suitable for various types of creations.

it originates from

Highlights the origin of something rather than the act of composing.

its origin is attributed to

A formal way of indicating the source or creator of something.

the mastermind behind it was

Emphasizes the creative genius or driving force behind a particular work.

FAQs

How can I use "it was composed by" in a sentence?

Use "it was composed by" to credit the creator of a piece of music, literature, or art. For example, "The symphony was a masterpiece; it was composed by Beethoven."

What can I say instead of "it was composed by"?

You can use alternatives like "it was created by", "it was written by", or "it was authored by depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "it was composed of" instead of "it was composed by"?

No, "it was composed of" is used to describe the elements that make up something, while "it was composed by" indicates the creator of a work. For example, "The team was composed of experts" versus "The music was composed by Mozart."

What's the difference between "it was composed by" and "it was performed by"?

"It was composed by" credits the original creator of a work, while "it was performed by" credits the artist who interpreted or played the work. For instance, "The song was composed by Lennon and McCartney, and it was performed by Aretha Franklin."