This post was originally published here in 2017. But it still is a tricky issue . . .
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“Hmmm….Should I use compose or comprise? What is the difference?”
Yes, these two words are confusing indeed. They mean the same thing, but are used differently. Much of the time it is easier to just give up and use a substitute word or phrase.
Comprise means “is made up of.” So the whole comprises the parts. In other words, when using comprise, the whole will come before the parts:
- The United State comprises fifty states. (The United States is made up of fifty states.)
- The class comprises second, third, and fourth grade students.
- The family in the photo comprises seven members.
Compose means “to make up.” The parts compose the whole. So here, the parts will come before the whole:
- Fifty states compose the United States.
- Second, third, and fourth graders compose the music class.
- Seven people compose the family seen in the above portrait.
Now, we can try to”flip” the words around into a sort of a passive-sounding usage is composed of, which can be used in place of comprise. Here, the whole is composed of the parts:
- The United States is composed of fifty states. (comprises fifty states)
- The music class is composed of second, third, and fourth graders. (comprises second, third, and fourth graders)
- The family is composed of mother, father, and five children. (comprises a mother, a father, and five children)
Don’t worry about flipping comprise around because you can’t. “Is comprised of” is not a thing, so don’t bother with it. Here are the three correct ways to say it:
- The department comprises a manager, an assistant manager, and four salespeople.
- The department is composed of a manager, an assistant manager, and four salespeople.
- A manager, an assistant manager, and four salespeople compose the department.
- Of course you can avoid it: The department is made up of a manager, an assistant manager, and four salespeople.
So get “is comprised of” out of your lexicon. It isn’t correct.
Tips to remember which is which:
Comprise contains eight letters; compose contains seven letters. Comprise is longer.
When comprise is used, the whole (larger) comes before the parts.
Compose is shorter; when it is used the parts ( smaller) come before the whole.
The above tips are when the verb is used in the active voice.
The more passive-sounding phrase “is composed of” is used instead of comprises and means” is made up of.”
The other passive-sounding phrase, “is comprised of” is not used.
A REQUEST: I am going to do a post on favorite books – possibly as soon as next week. And I don’t just want to write about MY favorite books, so I would love some feedback. Please e-mail me (please do not comment on this post with your favorite books) with your favorite book or books, or your least favorite(s), or your favorite genres — or those you don’t like and why. Or which books you loved as a kid. Any or all of those topics would be greatly appreciated. E-mail me at bigwords101@yahoo.com (easier to read than my website e-mail) Thank you!
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[ [ …] denote my inserts ]
I am confused, since this statement is confusing (for me, at least). I quote from the [digital] OED:
comprise
1. consist of; be made up of: the country comprises twenty states.
2. make up or constitute (a whole): ‘this single breed comprises 50 per cent of the Swiss cattle population.’ (be comprised of) ‘documents are comprised of words.’
When this (= second) sense is used in the passive (as in ‘the country is comprised of twenty states’), it is more or less synonymous with the first sense (‘the country comprises twenty states’). [Natch!]
This usage is part of standard English, but the construction comprise of, as in ‘the property comprises of bedroom, bathroom and kitchen’, is regarded as incorrect. [Natch, since one would mix up the active and passive forms.]
The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English gives a rather funny example:
… 2. pass. with ‘of’ not ‘by’ …. 15 separate republics comprise the Soviet Union [it is from 1978]. The ‘fun’ part is that they warn not to use the wrong preposition in the passive, and give an example of the active voice.
My paper OED just gives a few examples:
c.8.c pass. To be composed of, to consist of.
1874 Art of Paper-Making ii. 10 Thirds, or Mixed, are comprised of either or both of the above. 1928 Daily Tel. 17 July 10/7 The voluntary boards of management, comprised‥of very zealous and able laymen. 1964 E. Palmer [quite a big name in English linguistics!] tr. Martinet’s Elem. Gen. Ling. i. 28 Many of these words are comprised of monemes. 1970 Nature 27 June 1206/2 Internally, the chloroplast is comprised of a system of flattened membrane sacs.
[so its usage may not be so much incorrect as infrequent?. British usage?]
Now I am confused. I would just do what is in my post; it is simpler. Don’t use comprised of at all.
Dear Arlene
Your fan, David here. I found this issue very interesting. The Elements of Style draws a distinction between constitute and comprise, but I have never thought about using compose as I would use constitute. I always remember that the animals constitute the zoo and the zoo comprises the animals. Is compose the proper replacement for my use of constitute?,
Interesting, David. I don’t know if I have ever used the word constitute at all, but it does make sense there. Yes, compose would be used the same way as constitute is used there. I wonder how we got from that compose to the writing compose!
Compose:
to make or form by combining things, parts, or elements: He composed his speech from many research notes.
to be or constitute a part or element of: a rich sauce composed of many ingredients.
to make up or form the basis of: Style composes the essence of good writing.
to put or dispose in proper form or order: to compose laws into a coherent system.
Constitute:
to compose; form: mortar constituted of lime and sand.
to appoint to an office or function; make or create: He was constituted treasurer.
to establish (laws, an institution, etc.).
to give legal form to (an assembly, court, etc.).
to create or be tantamount to: Imports constitute a challenge to local goods.
PS: Glad you are still a fan!