it was comprised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was comprised" is not correct in standard English usage.
The correct term is "it was composed of" or "it comprised." Example: "The committee was comprised of experts from various fields."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

It was comprised of just one editorial, this four and a half columns long.

The New Yorker

It was comprised of an almost entirely Italian first half, followed by a second consisting of a variety of American musical classics, with the odd addition from elsewhere.

The Guardian - Music

Years ago, before we were married, my husband Andrew ran a reading group - it was comprised mostly of young progressive-minded men in their 20s.

The Guardian - Opinion

It was comprised between 0 and 3 h in 88 patients (86%).

The Journal of Headache and Pain

It was comprised of the bulk-micromachined silicon vertical mirror and silicon nitride horizontal mirror with piezoelectric cantilever actuator.

Micro and Nano Systems Letters

The top thin film was deposited by a physical vapour deposition (PVD -arc technique and it was comPVD -arcf stechniquetric TiN.

Surface and Coatings Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

It is comprised mostly of local stations.

The New Yorker

"It's comprised mostly of new taxes on the insurance industry".

The New York Times

It is comprised of the Moderate Party (M), the Liberal People's Party (FP), the Centre Party (C), and the Christian Democrats (KD).

The Guardian

It is comprised of more than 100 handmade ceramic cups, plates, teapots, flowers and tree branches.

The New York Times

If we were to do a Commentators' XI would it be comprised of the best commentators or the best players who now get behind the mic?

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "it was comprised". Instead, use "it was composed of" or rephrase the sentence to use "comprised" correctly (e.g., "it comprised several elements").

Common error

The word "comprised" means 'to consist of'. A common mistake is to use "comprised of", which is grammatically incorrect. Remember, the whole comprises the parts; the parts compose the whole. So, use "composed of" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was comprised" functions as a passive construction intended to describe the composition of a subject. However, according to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically incorrect. The correct usage would be either "it was composed of" or "it comprised."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was comprised" is commonly used but grammatically questionable. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct phrasing is either "it was composed of" or "it comprised". Analysis of various sources reveals its prevalence in scientific and news media, aiming to describe the composition of something. Despite its frequent usage, it's essential to use "composed of" instead to maintain grammatical accuracy. Consider alternatives like "it "consisted of"", "it "included"", or "it was "made up of"" for clarity and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was composed of

This alternative replaces 'comprised' with 'composed of', correcting the grammatical issue by using the correct prepositional phrase.

it consisted of

This alternative uses 'consisted of' which, similarly to 'composed of', avoids the incorrect use of 'comprised'.

it was made up of

This phrase uses a more informal expression to convey the idea of something being formed from constituent parts.

it was formed from

This highlights the process by which something came into being from certain components.

it included

This option is less formal, focusing on inclusion rather than complete constitution.

it encompassed

Similar to 'embraced', but suggests a more complete or wider scope of inclusion.

it contained

This option emphasizes the elements that something holds or includes within itself.

it incorporated

This suggests that the item integrates or contains certain elements.

it embraced

This suggests a comprehensive inclusion of various elements.

it featured

Focuses on highlighting specific components or aspects of something.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use the word "comprise"?

The word "comprise" means to consist of or to include. Therefore, the correct usage is: "The committee comprised ten members". The phrase "comprised of" is generally considered incorrect. You can use alternatives such as "composed of" or "consisted of" instead.

What can I say instead of "it was comprised of"?

The phrase "it was comprised of" is grammatically incorrect. You can use alternatives like "it was "composed of"", "it "consisted of"", or "it "included"" depending on the context.

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

"Composed of" is the correct phrase. While "comprised" means 'to consist of', the phrase "comprised of" is considered incorrect. "Composed of" is the widely accepted alternative.

What's the difference between "comprise" and "compose"?

"Comprise" means to include or consist of; the whole comprises the parts. "Compose" means to make up or form; the parts compose the whole. Therefore, it is accurate to say 'The organization comprises five departments' or 'Five departments compose the organization'.