it was comprised of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was comprised of" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to describe the components or elements that make up something. For example: - The new team was comprised of experienced leaders and fresh talents. - The song was comprised of catchy lyrics, a memorable melody, and a powerful chorus. - The painting was comprised of vibrant colors and intricate details. You can use this phrase when describing a group, composition, or makeup of something. However, it is important to note that "comprised of" implies that the subject is made up of the listed elements, rather than being identical to them. For example, saying "the team was comprised of five players" suggests that there are only five players in the team, while saying "the team was five players" would mean that the team itself is made up of five players.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 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

At one time it was comprised of the main bar with two lounges, precise social divisions of 1st, 2nd and 3rd class.

The Guardian - Travel

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

XRD analysis of the CoBlast deposited HA coatings demonstrated that it was comprised of the same crystalline HA as the precursor powder.

Surface and Coatings Technology

In this validation phase, it was comprised of 50 items that were distributed across eight dimensions that is, the newly postulated interpersonal dimension and the seven established dimensions of depression.

International Perspectives on Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

It is comprised of dissidents who never accepted its namesake's ceasefire more than 20 years ago.

BBC

It is comprised of two subsystems.

Harvard University

It is comprised of two stages.

Computers & Chemical Engineering

It is comprised of vacuum vessel (VV) and cryostat (CST).

Fusion Engineering and Design

It is comprised of four rooms, but it's much smaller than those of other pharaohs.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the subject and its components align logically. For example, "The team was comprised of skilled players" makes sense, whereas "The team was comprised of a chair" does not.

Common error

Avoid using "comprised of" when you mean "composed of". While "comprised of" is acceptable, many style guides prefer "composed of" or "made up of" because "comprise" means to include or contain, not to be included or contained. For example, prefer "The committee was composed of five members" over "The committee was comprised of five members".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was comprised of" functions as a passive construction used to describe the composition or constitution of something. It indicates what elements or components something consists of, providing details about its makeup. Ludwig examples showcase its use in scientific, news, and academic contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

33%

Academia

26%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was comprised of" is a grammatically correct and frequently used passive construction to describe the composition of something. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is commonly found in scientific, news, and academic contexts. While acceptable, some style guides may prefer alternatives like "it was composed of" or "it consisted of" for greater precision. When using this phrase, ensure you clearly specify all components and consider the potential for ambiguity. Using the phrase in the active voice (e.g., “it comprised”) is grammatically precise, but may cause confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it consisted of

Replaces 'comprised' with 'consisted', focusing on the elements that something is made up of.

it was composed of

Uses 'composed' instead of 'comprised', highlighting the act of forming something from its parts.

it was made up of

Emphasizes the act of creating or assembling something from its constituents.

it included

Indicates that something contained certain elements, but may have had others as well.

it featured

Highlights specific aspects or components that are notable or prominent.

it incorporated

Suggests that elements were integrated or combined to form a whole.

it contained

Focuses on the elements present within something, emphasizing inclusion.

it encompassed

Indicates that something covered or included a wide range of elements.

its components were

Shifts the focus to the individual parts or elements that constitute something.

it was structured with

Highlights the arrangement or organization of elements within a system or entity.

FAQs

How can I use "it was comprised of" in a sentence?

Use "it was comprised of" to describe what something is made up of. For example, "The final product was comprised of several key components" or "The committee was comprised of members from various departments".

What phrases are similar to "it was comprised of"?

Alternatives include "it consisted of", "it was composed of", or "it was made up of". All of these indicate the elements that constitute something.

Is it better to say "it was comprised of" or "it comprised"?

While "it was comprised of" is acceptable, "it comprised" is more grammatically precise when the subject includes the listed elements, rather than being included by them. However, using "it was composed of" avoids this potential confusion.

What's the difference between "it was comprised of" and "it included"?

"It was comprised of" indicates that something is entirely made up of the listed components. "It included" suggests that the listed components were present, but there may have been other components as well. Thus, "it included" suggests partial composition, while the main query suggests a complete one.