made of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'made of' is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to indicate what something is composed of. For example: "This beautiful necklace is made of silver."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Hearts Made of Stone".

The New Yorker

It's made of gold.

The New Yorker

They are made of ice.

The New Yorker

We're not made of money.

The New Yorker

Air is made of molecules.

The Economist

What are they made of?

The New York Times

What was made of Styrofoam?

The New Yorker

Are you made of gold?

The New York Times

He's made of different stuff.

Independent

Are people made of sugar?

The New Yorker

Everything is made of people".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating a more abstract quality or characteristic, consider alternatives like "composed of" or "consisting of" for nuanced meaning. For instance, "The team is composed of talented individuals".

Common error

Avoid using "made of" in contexts where the composition is more conceptual than physical. For example, instead of saying "Success is made of hard work", use "Success requires hard work".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made of" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun, describing its material composition. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and broad applicability, as evidenced by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

23%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "made of" is a grammatically sound and highly versatile prepositional phrase used to describe the materials or components that constitute something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it enjoys widespread use across diverse contexts, from news and media to science and business. While generally neutral in register, more formal alternatives like "composed of" may be preferred in certain academic or professional settings. The phrase's consistent application and clarity make it a valuable tool for precise communication, though overuse in abstract senses should be avoided. Its prevalence in authoritative sources underscores its reliability and effectiveness in conveying compositional information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

composed of

Emphasizes the constituent parts that form a whole, similar to "made of" but slightly more formal.

constituted of

A more formal and less frequently used synonym for "made of", denoting the elements that form a whole.

consisting of

Highlights the elements that constitute something, close in meaning to "made of".

comprised of

Indicates that something is formed from specified parts, akin to "made of" but can sometimes imply a complete enumeration of components.

constructed from

Focuses on the process of building something using certain materials, unlike the more general "made of".

built from

Similar to "constructed from", emphasizing the act of creation using particular components, providing more emphasis on assembly than "made of".

fashioned from

Suggests a more artistic or skillful creation process, giving emphasis to design. Less literal than "made of".

formed from

Emphasizes the shaping or molding of something from certain materials, implying a transformative process.

containing

Highlights inclusion or presence of specific ingredients, a slight deviation from "made of" which focuses on the primary material.

deriving from

Signifies origin or source of materials, shifting focus from composition to etymology.

FAQs

How do I use "made of" in a sentence?

"Made of" is used to describe the materials or components that something is created from. For example, "The house is "made of bricks"" or "The ring is "made of gold"".

What can I say instead of "made of"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "composed of", "consisting of", or "comprised of".

Is it correct to say "made from" instead of "made of"?

While both "made of" and "made from" are correct, they have slightly different uses. "Made of" indicates the materials that are still recognizable in the final product, while "made from" indicates materials that have been transformed. For example, "The table is made of wood" versus "Paper is "made from wood"".

Which is more formal, "made of" or "composed of"?

"Composed of" is generally considered more formal than "made of". You might use "composed of" in academic or professional writing, while "made of" is suitable for everyday conversation.