the balance comprised

USAGE SUMMARY

"the balance comprised" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when describing what elements make up a total or a whole. For example, "The balance comprised various assets and liabilities." Alternative expressions include "the balance consisted of" and "the balance included."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

An oxygen concentration of 1% was maintained throughout the chamber, with the balance comprised of 5% CO2, nitrogen and water vapour from a humidified chamber.

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

According to the EDX characterization performed with a primary electron energy of 30 keV, the AM50 substrates under investigation were composed of 86 wt% magnesium, 5.5 wt% aluminum, 0.5 wt% zinc, 0.3 wt% manganese, and 0.1 wt% silicon, with the balance comprising carbon and oxygen containing species attributed to the sample surfaces.

Applied Adhesion Science

Regarding the structure (see Fig. A5), the energy balance comprises three main parts: energy supply, transformation and energy demand.

Energy Policy

Static balance comprised of testing postural sway in three different standing balance tasks on a Wii Balance Board (WBB) (Nintendo, Kyoto, Japan) [ 25].

BMC Pediatrics

The balance is comprised of woodland as well as terrain in the lower level river valley suited to growing grains, from which the family produces pasta.

Forbes

The balance will comprise debt raised on a project-to-project basis.

The Guardian

30 Bacterial balance, necrotic tissue, and moisture balance comprise the three major considerations in treating a chronic wound.

Clinical interventions in aging

As for autonomic nerve function, a central autonomic network that controls sympathetico-vagal balance is comprised of the orbitofrontal cortex, medial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, insula, amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, hypothalamus, periaqueductal gray matter, pons and medulla oblongata [ 28, 29].

Behavioral and Brain Functions

The governing continuum equations that comprised the balance laws of mass, linear momentum, and energy were modified to include the Hartmann and Hall effects of magnetohydrodynamics, and variable viscosity of the fluid was solved numerically using the successive linearization method together with the Chebyshev collocation method.

Boundary Value Problems

Therefore, the biologic outcome of TRAIL stimulation seems to be determined in each cell type by the balance of different elements, comprising transmembrane receptor expression (including density and localization), and intracellular components that, eventually, could switch the cell phenotype either from apoptotic-prone to apoptotic-resistant or vice versa [ 19].

BioMed Research International

Burning fossil fuels, especially coal, accounted for 78% of the total increase in carbon dioxide between 1970 and 2010, with deforestation comprising the balance of emissions.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Maintain the active voice by following the phrase directly with the constituent parts, ensuring the 'balance' represents the whole of the remaining section.

Common error

Avoid writing "the balance comprised of" when using the active voice. While the passive "was comprised of" is common in modern usage, the active form "comprised" should directly precede its components without a preposition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the balance comprised" functions as a descriptive clause where the noun 'balance' (meaning the remainder) acts as the subject for the transitive verb 'comprised'. According to Ludwig, it is frequently used to provide a detailed breakdown of a total amount or substance.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "the balance comprised" is a sophisticated linguistic tool used primarily in formal, scientific and academic contexts. It serves to define the composition of a remaining portion (the 'balance') of a subject. While Ludwig identifies its frequency as Rare in terms of exact matches, its variants and use in high-authority sources like The Guardian and Nature confirm its legitimacy. Writers should be careful not to incorrectly add the preposition 'of' when using 'comprised' in the active voice. Overall, it remains a precise choice for technical descriptions where accounting for every component of a whole is necessary for clarity and accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the remainder consisted of

Uses a more common verb for general descriptions

the rest included

Less formal and less precise than using comprised

the remaining portion included

Uses a noun-heavy structure for clarity

the balance was made up of

Uses a passive phrasal verb construction

the final part comprised

Emphasizes the sequence of the description

the residue comprised

More specific to chemistry or physical leftovers

the remaining items were

Specific to lists of objects or distinct entities

the surplus consisted of

Implies an excess rather than just a remaining portion

the balance involved

Vaguer than comprised regarding total composition

the leftover part was

Much more informal and conversational

FAQs

Is "the balance comprised" correct to use in a sentence?

Yes, it is correct. As noted in Ludwig, this phrase is effectively used to describe what elements make up a total or a remainder, such as in the sentence: "The oxygen concentration was 1%, with "the balance comprised" of other gases."

What is the difference between "the balance comprised" and "the balance was comprised of"?

The primary difference is voice. "The balance comprised" is active, while "the balance was comprised of" is passive. Strict grammarians often prefer the active form or suggest using "was composed of" instead of the passive comprised.

When is the term 'balance' used in this context?

In this context, 'balance' refers to the remainder or the rest of something. You might see it in financial reports or scientific data where most parts are specified and ""the balance comprised"" explains the final portion.

Can I say "the balance consisted of" instead?

Absolutely. "the balance consisted of" is a perfectly valid and slightly more common alternative that functions identically in most formal writing.