they are composed of

USAGE SUMMARY

"they are composed of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you are explaining what something is made up of. For example, "These cupcakes are composed of sugar, eggs, butter, and flour."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They are composed of sieve cells and sieve-tube members.

Encyclopedia Britannica

That is because they are composed of gas.

The Economist

"The oligarchy, who perpetrated this coup, feared him and they are composed of just 10 families.

Independent

They are composed of iron oxide and one or more other metals in chemical combination.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They are composed of selected letters of a word, which together represent the whole word, not unlike a monogram.

The New Yorker

They are composed of grids of small, rectangularly framed doodles whose breezy gestures recall Abstract Expressionism and East Asian calligraphy.

The New York Times - Arts

They are composed of two parts.

Fashion and Textiles

They are composed of two phases: predication and filtering.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

They are composed of fibrous tissue and abundant fat [8].

Insights into Imaging

They are composed of sensor and detector part.

Nanoscale Research Letters

They are composed of three subunits, Gα, Gβ and Gγ.

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Proteins and Proteomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "they are composed of", ensure that the 'they' clearly refers to a specific, previously mentioned subject to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "they are composed of" with singular collective nouns. Instead, use "it is composed of" when the subject is a singular collective noun (e.g., "The team is composed of talented players.").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they are composed of" serves as a descriptive predicate. It functions to specify the elements, parts, or ingredients that constitute a particular subject. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is both correct and widely used in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

11%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they are composed of" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to delineate the constituent elements of a subject. As indicated by Ludwig, it is suitable for use across various contexts, with a prevalence in scientific, news, and encyclopedic sources. While alternatives like "they consist of" and "they are made up of" exist, the key is to ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy when describing the composition of something. Remembering that singular collective nouns require "it is composed of" is vital to prevent errors. Overall, "they are composed of" remains a reliable and versatile phrase in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they consist of

Focuses on the elements that constitute something, similar to composition.

they are made up of

Emphasizes the act of creation or assembly from multiple parts.

they comprise

Indicates that the listed elements form the whole.

they are constituted by

Highlights the legal or formal elements that define something.

they embody

Suggests that something is a tangible representation of abstract qualities.

they incorporate

Implies that something includes or contains specific features.

they encompass

Describes the scope or range of something, including all elements within.

they integrate

Focuses on combining different parts into a unified whole.

they feature

Highlights prominent or important elements within something.

they include

Indicates that something contains certain elements, possibly among others.

FAQs

How can I use "they are composed of" in a sentence?

Use "they are composed of" to describe the constituent parts of a plural subject. For example, "The molecules are composed of atoms".

What's a simpler way to say "they are composed of"?

You can use alternatives like "they consist of" or "they are made up of".

Is it correct to say "they are composed by" instead of "they are composed of"?

No, the correct preposition to use with "composed" in this context is "of". "They are composed by" is grammatically incorrect.

How does "they are composed of" differ from "they comprise"?

"They are composed of" focuses on the individual parts, while "they comprise" emphasizes that the listed elements constitute the whole. For example, "The cake is composed of flour, sugar, and eggs" versus "Flour, sugar, and eggs comprise the cake".