were comprised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were comprised" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct usage would be "were composed of" or "comprised" without "were." Example: "The committee was comprised of experts from various fields."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Teams, then, were comprised of multiple social groups.

Columbia University

Nor would it if my wealth were comprised of a huge manufacturing concern.

The Guardian - Opinion

Most of their names were comprised of two western-sounding first names strung together.

The Guardian

Altogether seven columns with different slenderness ratios were comprised.

Thin-Walled Structures

Two of the final three teams were comprised of Stanford-affiliated students and fellows.

Stanford University

The teams were comprised of the great and very good of world cricket; in 1987, that meant only one Australian.

The Guardian - Sport

For the past decade, nearly 30% of the child suicides to age 17 were comprised of Aboriginal children.

The Guardian - Opinion

The oil droplets were comprised of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and n-butyl acetate.

Polymer

Coping mechanisms were comprised of relationships, exercise, time management, and the ability to schedule "down time".

Teaching and Teacher Education

Subjects were comprised of 13 visually normal young adults and 3 absolute presbyopes.

Vision Research

These scaffolds were comprised of collagen fibers and poorly crystalline bone-like carbonated apatite nanoparticles.

Acta Biomaterialia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the passive construction "were comprised". Instead, use "comprised" in the active voice (e.g., 'The team comprised skilled professionals') or use alternatives like "were composed of" or "consisted of" for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

A frequent error is using "were comprised of", which is redundant and grammatically incorrect. Remember that 'comprise' means 'to consist of', so using 'of' after 'comprised' is unnecessary and creates an awkward construction. Instead, use alternatives like "were composed of" or "consisted of".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were comprised" functions as a passive construction intended to describe the components of something. However, Ludwig AI analysis indicates it is grammatically incorrect. The correct usage involves either using "comprise" in the active voice or substituting with phrases like "were composed of" or "consisted of".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "were comprised" is frequently encountered, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The intended use is to describe what constitutes a whole, but the passive construction introduces an error. For correct usage, opt for the active voice with "comprise" or use alternatives such as "were composed of" or "consisted of". These alternatives ensure grammatical accuracy and maintain clarity, particularly in formal or scientific writing. Remember that 'comprise' means 'to consist of', so using 'of' after 'comprised' is unnecessary and creates an awkward construction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were composed of

Replaces "comprised" with "composed of", a grammatically sound alternative that conveys the same meaning.

were made up of

Informal yet grammatically correct substitution for "were comprised", suitable for less formal contexts.

consisted of

Similar in meaning to "were comprised" and "were composed of", emphasizing the elements that constitute something.

comprised

Using "comprised" alone in the active voice makes the sentence grammatically correct by indicating that the parts make up the whole, not the other way around.

were constituted by

A formal and less common alternative, implying the establishment or structure of something through its components.

included

Highlights the presence of certain elements within a larger whole, but doesn't necessarily imply full composition.

contained

Emphasizes the inclusion of elements, similar to 'included', but suggests more of an enclosure or holding.

were formed from

Focuses on the process of creation or assembly, indicating how something was created from its parts.

embraced

Suggests a comprehensive inclusion, implying that something encompasses a wide range of elements.

were comprised in

Alternative form using comprised preposition which is not commonly used.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "were comprised of"?

No, "were comprised of" is generally considered incorrect. The verb 'comprise' means 'to consist of', so the 'of' is redundant. You can use "were composed of" or "consisted of" instead.

What's the difference between "comprise", "compose", and "constitute"?

'Comprise' means to include or contain; 'compose' means to form or create. 'Constitute' is similar to 'compose'. So, the parts comprise the whole, and the whole is composed of or constituted by the parts. It is correct to say 'The team comprises five members' or 'The team is composed of five members'.

What can I use instead of "were comprised"?

Alternatives include "were composed of", "were made up of", or "consisted of". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

How should I use "comprise" correctly in a sentence?

Use "comprise" to indicate that the listed parts make up the whole. For example, 'The committee comprises members from various departments'. Avoid using it in the passive voice with 'were'.