to consist of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to consist of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe the components or elements that make up a whole. Example: "The committee will consist of five members, each representing a different department."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

His day seemed to consist of diversions.

The Guardian

This image was to consist of a complete city.

The New York Times

Is their reporting supposed to consist of facts or spin?

The New York Times

"Your life has to consist of more than 'Black people should unite,' " he said.

The New Yorker

The M23 is now believed to consist of 2,500 to 3,000 men.

The Guardian

The audience seemed exclusively to consist of either al-Muhajiroun supporters or non-Muslim journo types.

The Guardian - Opinion

The bedbug genome turns out to consist of almost seven hundred million base pairs.

The New Yorker

He hated the meals which seemed mainly to consist of pilchards.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Many people consider a recession to consist of two consecutive quarters of contraction.

The New York Times

Yet his answers seem to consist of a broad personal solution and a narrow policy solution.

The New Yorker

For Buckley, feminism seems to consist of shopping, and in its grandest moments, withholding sex.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the components of something, ensure that the list is exhaustive or clearly indicates if it is not. For instance, say "The team will consist of members from marketing, sales, and potentially others" rather than just "The team will consist of members from marketing and sales".

Common error

Avoid implying that a list is exhaustive when it is not. Using "to consist of" suggests a complete enumeration. If the list is not complete, consider using phrases like "to include" or "to feature" instead to indicate that there are other elements not explicitly mentioned.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to consist of" functions as an infinitive phrase that typically introduces a description of the components or elements that constitute a whole. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to consist of" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to describe the elements or components that make up a whole. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, from news and media to scientific and formal writing. When using this phrase, be mindful of whether you intend to provide an exhaustive list or just a partial one. If the list is not exhaustive, alternatives like "to include" might be more appropriate. With a high expert rating and frequent occurrence in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, mastering the use of "to consist of" will enhance your writing clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to be composed of

Replaces "consist" with "be composed", emphasizing the act of being formed from components.

to be made up of

Uses a more informal phrasing with "made up", suggesting a less formal register.

to comprise

Employs a more formal and concise synonym for "consist", suitable for academic or technical writing.

to be constituted by

A formal alternative that emphasizes the elements that legally or structurally form the whole.

to include

Focuses on the act of inclusion rather than the overall composition.

to incorporate

Highlights the act of bringing elements together into a unified structure.

to encompass

Suggests a broader scope of inclusion, implying that the elements are contained within a larger whole.

to contain

Simple and direct, focusing on the presence of elements within something.

to embody

Implies that the elements are essential and representative of the whole.

to feature

Highlights specific elements as prominent or noteworthy.

FAQs

How do I use "to consist of" in a sentence?

Use "to consist of" to describe what elements or parts something is made of. For example, "The committee will "to consist of" five members" indicates that the committee's membership is five people.

What can I say instead of "to consist of"?

Alternatives include "to be composed of", "to be made up of", or "to include", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "to consists of"?

No, the correct form is "to consist of". The verb "consist" should not be conjugated when used with "to" in the infinitive form.

What's the difference between "to consist of" and "to include"?

"To consist of" implies a complete list of components, while "to include" suggests that there may be other components not explicitly mentioned. For example, "The meal "to consist of" soup and salad" means only soup and salad, whereas "The meal "to include" soup and salad" implies there may be other courses as well.