what it consists

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what it consists" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "what it consists of"? You can use "what it consists of" when you want to inquire about the components or elements that make up something. Example: "Can you explain what it consists of in terms of materials and design?"

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

Most basically, for Costa Ricans to care about biodiversity their country, which covers 0.03percentnt of the Earth's land surface, contains four per cent of its species they have to know what it consists of.

The New Yorker

Most basically, for Costa Ricans to care about biodiversity — their country, which covers 0.03percentnt of the Earth's land surface, contains four per cent of its species — they have to know what it consists of.

The New Yorker

But no one has any idea what it consists of.

The Guardian - Opinion

What it consists of is thinking in a computational way – giving instructions to something.

The Guardian - Tech

If such an order does exist, there is no consensus as to what it consists of.

The New York Times

Wealthy people know exactly what it consists of and make sure their children get it.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

No one except its authors really knows what it consisted of.

The Economist

Here's what it consisted of: Hillary was virtually without flaws.

The Guardian - Opinion

Although more work was undertaken between 1370 and 1377, the year of Edward's death, what it consisted of is unknown.

Wikipedia

Follow Allie Conti on Twitter.

Vice

Consent procedure required an explanation of the research project, what it consisted of and the type of data being collected.

BMC Pediatrics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the complete phrase "what it consists of". Omitting the "of" is grammatically incorrect and can confuse readers.

Common error

A common mistake is to omit the preposition "of" after "consists", resulting in the grammatically incorrect phrase "what it consists". Always include "of" to ensure grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what it consists" functions as an interrogative clause fragment, typically completed by the preposition "of". However, without the "of", it is grammatically incomplete. Ludwig indicates that "what it consists" is not the correct phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "what it consists" is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI indicates, the correct form is "what it consists of", which is used to inquire about the components or elements of something. While source quality is generally high, the grammatical error impacts the overall expert rating. For better clarity and grammatical correctness, always remember to include the preposition "of". The correct query "what it consists of" is more frequently found in News & Media and Academic contexts. Be mindful of common errors like omitting the "of", which leads to grammatical issues. It's best to consider alternative phrases like "what it comprises" or "what it is made of" if unsure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what it comprises

Focuses on the components or elements that make up the whole, similar to the idea of "consists of".

what it is composed of

Emphasizes the materials or substances that form something.

what its components are

Directly asks about the individual parts that make up the whole.

what its makeup is

Focuses on the arrangement or combination of elements.

what it is made of

Focuses specifically on the materials used to create something.

what it includes

Highlights the items or aspects that are part of something.

what its constituents are

Emphasizes the essential parts or elements.

what it embodies

Shifts the focus to the abstract qualities or ideas that something represents.

what the essential elements are

Focuses on the fundamental aspects that are necessary for something to exist or function.

what the key ingredients are

Highlights the essential elements, particularly in a recipe or process.

FAQs

How do I properly use the phrase "what it consists of" in a sentence?

The phrase "what it consists of" is used to ask about the components or elements that make up something. For example: "Can you explain "what it consists of" in terms of materials and design?"

What's a more formal alternative to "what it consists of"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "what it comprises" or "what it is composed of". These alternatives convey a similar meaning while maintaining a higher level of formality.

Is "what it consists" grammatically correct?

No, the correct phrase is "what it consists of". Omitting the "of" makes the sentence grammatically incorrect. Remember to always include the preposition "of".

What are some other ways to ask about the parts of something, besides "what it consists of"?

Alternatives include asking "what its components are", "what it includes", or "what it is made of". The best choice depends on the specific context and what you want to emphasize.