to be comprised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to be comprised" is not correct in standard written English; the correct form is "to comprise." You can use "to comprise" when describing the components or elements that make up a whole.
Example: "The committee is comprised of five members, each representing a different department."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Juries are not meant to be comprised of 12 Jeremy Clarkson think-alikes.

The Guardian - Opinion

Whatever it has to be comprised of, we will have a team in the 2012 Olympics," Triesman said.

The Guardian - Sport

This interface region was found to be comprised of mainly Si and rich with Sn3O4.

Surface and Coatings Technology

Microstructure is considered to be comprised of basic elements that belong to the material set.

Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids

His overall pay, however, is expected to be comprised largely of stock awards.

The New York Times

A hydrodynamic model has been developed which considers the reactor to be comprised of riser and downcomer regions.

Chemical Engineering Science

The axial speed is assumed to be comprised of a constant mean value along with harmonic fluctuations.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Given that an alternative Irish government is likely to be comprised of Fine Gael and Labour, the prospect of a referendum on abortion could prove divisive.

The Guardian

Ubiquitination site is predicted to be comprised of residues 'SPECLDLLVDS' between sites 178 and 188, both positions inclusive.

Gene

Separate elements of the lower jaw, including the mentomeckelians, are difficult to discern but it appears to be comprised of a dentary and angulosplenial.

Nature

"Now, senior management is very unlikely to be comprised of quants, as quants usually lack the social skills to get very high up the management hierarchy.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using "to be comprised of", use the active voice construction "to comprise" for grammatical correctness and clarity. For example, instead of "The team is comprised of experts", write "The team comprises experts."

Common error

Many writers incorrectly use "comprised of" when they mean "composed of". Remember that the parts compose the whole, while the whole comprises the parts. To avoid this error, consider using "consists of" or "is made up of" as alternatives.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to be comprised" functions as a passive verb phrase, typically used to describe the composition of something. However, Ludwig AI flags this as grammatically incorrect, advising the use of "to comprise" instead. Examples show its usage across various contexts, though often replaced by alternatives for correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to be comprised" is a commonly used but grammatically incorrect construction. According to Ludwig AI, the correct form is "to comprise". While frequently found in both scientific and news media sources, using alternatives such as "to consist of" or "to be composed of" is advisable. Remember, the whole comprises the parts, while the parts compose the whole. This distinction ensures clarity and grammatical accuracy in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to consist of

Emphasizes the elements that something is made of, focusing on its constituents.

to be composed of

Highlights the act of putting something together from various components.

to be made up of

Focuses on the individual parts that form the whole.

to constitute

Highlights the elements that, together, form or establish something.

to include

Suggests a partial list of components, without necessarily being exhaustive.

to contain

Focuses on what is held or included within something.

to encompass

Indicates a broader scope, implying that something contains or covers multiple elements.

to feature

Highlights specific attributes or characteristics that are prominent or important.

to incorporate

Suggests that elements are combined or integrated into a larger structure or system.

to embody

Implies that something is a tangible or visible form of an idea, quality, or feeling.

FAQs

Is "to be comprised of" grammatically correct?

No, the grammatically correct form is "to comprise". While "to be comprised of" is commonly used, it is considered incorrect in standard English. The verb "comprise" means 'to consist of' or 'to be made up of', so adding "of" is redundant.

What's the difference between "comprised of" and "composed of"?

"Composed of" is grammatically correct, while "comprised of" is generally considered incorrect. The parts compose the whole, while the whole comprises the parts. You can also use "consists of" as an alternative.

What can I use instead of "to be comprised of"?

You can use alternatives such as "to consist of", "to be composed of", or "to be made up of". The verb "comprise" can also be used directly, without "of", as in 'The team comprises five members'.

How to correctly use "comprise" in a sentence?

Use "comprise" to indicate what something is made up of. For example, instead of saying 'The cake is comprised of flour, sugar, and eggs', say 'The cake comprises flour, sugar, and eggs'. Alternatively, you can use "is composed of" or "consists of".