were comprised of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were comprised of" is often considered incorrect in formal written English.
It is typically used to describe the components or elements that make up a whole, but the correct form is "were composed of." Example: "The committee were comprised of experts from various fields."

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

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

X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that Pr-Zn alloy were comprised of different Pr-Zn intermetallics.

Electrochimica Acta

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While acceptable, consider using "were composed of" in formal writing to adhere to stricter grammatical conventions. For example: The team were comprised of members from different departments may be better phrased as: The team were composed of members from different departments.

Common error

Avoid using "comprised of" when "composed of" is more appropriate. Remember that the whole 'comprises' the parts, while the parts 'compose' the whole. Thus, it's more precise to say something 'is composed of' elements rather than 'is comprised of' elements.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were comprised of" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating the elements that constitute a whole. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use across various contexts, describing the composition of teams, alloys, and abstract concepts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

46%

News & Media

24%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were comprised of" is a common way to describe the components of something, but it's worth noting that Ludwig AI identifies it as potentially less formal than "were composed of". While widely used across diverse contexts like science, news, and academia, favoring "were composed of" in formal writing is advisable. Common errors involve confusing "comprised of" with "composed of", so remember the parts 'compose' the whole, while the whole 'comprises' the parts. Consider alternatives like "consisted of" or "were made up of" depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were composed of

This alternative is considered more grammatically correct and formal.

were made up of

This is a more informal and common alternative, suitable for everyday language.

consisted of

This alternative emphasizes the elements included within a whole.

included

This alternative focuses on the act of including specific items within a group.

were constituted by

This is a more formal and less common alternative, emphasizing the formation of a whole.

were formed from

This alternative highlights the process of creation or assembly of the whole.

were built from

This alternative suggests a more deliberate or structured assembly process.

were created from

This alternative highlights the creation aspect of combining elements.

were developed from

This alternative implies an evolution or refinement process in the combination of elements.

were structured around

This alternative emphasizes the arrangement or organization of the elements.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "were comprised of"?

While widely used, "were comprised of" is often considered less formal than "were composed of". Some grammar purists argue that "comprise" means 'to contain' or 'to include', so the whole 'comprises' the parts. Ludwig AI indicates that "comprised of" is acceptable but advises considering "composed of" for formal contexts.

What's a more formal alternative to "were comprised of"?

A more formal and widely accepted alternative is "were composed of". This phrasing is generally preferred in academic and professional writing.

Can I use "consisted of" instead of "were comprised of"?

Yes, "consisted of" is a suitable alternative, particularly when emphasizing the elements that make up the whole. It carries a similar meaning and is generally considered grammatically sound.

Is there a difference in meaning between "were comprised of" and "were made up of"?

"were made up of" is a more informal alternative to "were comprised of". While the core meaning is similar, "were made up of" is better suited for casual contexts, whereas "were comprised of" attempts a more formal tone, though "were composed of" is generally recommended instead.