You’re sitting there, staring at a blinking cursor, trying to make a list sound fancy. You want to describe a team, a collection, or maybe a recipe. You reach for that "professional" word. You want to use comprising in a sentence, but suddenly, you freeze. Does it take an "of"? Is it "is comprised of" or just "comprised"?
Honestly, most people get this wrong. Even lawyers and tenured professors mess it up constantly. It’s one of those linguistic traps where the more you try to sound smart, the easier it is to accidentally announce to the world that you don't actually know the rules of the road.
The word "comprise" comes from the Old French comprendre, which basically means to grab or take in. It’s about the whole containing the parts. Think of it like a hug. The big thing hugs the little things. If you remember that one simple visual, you’re already ahead of 90% of the internet.
Why Everyone Messes Up Comprising
Language changes. I get it. But there is a specific reason why using "comprising" feels so clunky to the uninitiated. We get it mixed up with "composed."
"Composed of" is perfectly fine. It’s standard. It’s safe. But "comprised of" is technically a redundant mess, at least according to the traditionalists who still gatekeep the Associated Press Stylebook and The Chicago Manual of Style.
Here is the secret: The whole comprises the parts. The parts compose the whole.
🔗 Read more: Weather Forecast for Van Nuys CA: What Most People Get Wrong About January
Let's look at a real-world example. If you’re talking about the United States, you’d say: "The union comprises 50 states." You would not say "The union is comprised of 50 states" if you’re trying to follow strict grammatical standards. It sounds "right" to our ears because we hear it so often, but in a formal setting, it’s a glaring error.
Bryan Garner, the guy who wrote Garner's Modern English Usage, calls "comprised of" a "monstrosity." That’s a bit dramatic, maybe. But if you're writing a legal brief or a high-stakes business proposal, do you really want to be the person using a "monstrosity"? Probably not.
How to Use Comprising in a Sentence Like a Pro
If you want to use comprising in a sentence correctly, you need to treat the word like an active verb that does the heavy lifting. It doesn't need a prepositional crutch.
Consider these scenarios:
- The Corporate Version: "The new committee, comprising representatives from every department, will meet on Tuesday."
- The Kitchen Version: "I made a salad comprising kale, walnuts, and way too much goat cheese."
- The Travel Version: "The archipelago, comprising over three hundred islands, remains largely uninhabited."
Notice something? In every single one of those, "comprising" just sits there and does its job. No "of." No "is." It just flows.
If you ever feel that urge to add "of" after it, stop. Take a breath. Either delete the "of" or swap the whole thing out for "consisting of" or "made up of."
The Passive Voice Trap
We love the passive voice. It makes us feel like we’re writing something important. But "is comprised of" is the king of the passive voice trap.
Think about the word "include." You wouldn't say "The cake is included of flour and sugar." That sounds ridiculous. You’d say "The cake includes flour and sugar."
"Comprise" works exactly like "include," just with a bit more "total" energy. While "include" suggests there might be other things in there you aren't mentioning, "comprise" usually implies you're listing everything. It’s an exhaustive word. It’s the difference between saying "The group includes Bob" (there are others) and "The group comprises Bob, Sue, and Jim" (that's the whole squad).
Real Talk: Does It Actually Matter?
Look, if you’re texting your mom, it doesn't matter. If you're writing a tweet, who cares?
But English is a game of credibility. When you use comprising in a sentence the right way, you signal to editors, recruiters, and high-level clients that you have a certain level of polish. It’s a "shibboleth"—a tiny detail that identifies you as part of the "in-the-know" crowd.
There was a famous case in the UK where a judge actually pointed out the misuse of the word in a legal document. Imagine losing a bit of your professional standing just because you couldn't resist adding a two-letter word like "of." It’s not worth the risk.
The "Include" vs. "Comprise" Nuance
People use these as synonyms, but they aren't. Not really.
If you say "The meal comprises a steak and a potato," you are saying that is the entire meal. Nothing else is on the plate. If you say "The meal includes a steak and a potato," there might be some sneaky peas or a dinner roll hiding under the napkin.
Precision is the whole point of using "fancy" words. If you don't need to be precise, just use "has" or "is."
"The car has four wheels."
"The car comprises four wheels, an engine, and a chassis."
See the difference? One is casual; the other is a complete inventory.
Common Mistakes to Delete from Your Brain
- Is comprised of: Just don't. Replace it with "comprises" or "is composed of."
- Comprising of: This is the most common one. It’s like saying "including of." Just cut the "of."
- Parts comprise the whole: Wrong direction! The house comprises the rooms. The rooms do not comprise the house. The rooms constitute the house.
If you’re ever in doubt, just use the word constitute. "Fifty states constitute the union." It’s a great word. It sounds smart. It’s almost impossible to mess up.
Actionable Steps for Better Writing
Stop trying to force "comprising" into every sentence. It’s a high-calorie word. Use it sparingly.
When you do use it, perform the "of" test. If you can't remove "of" and have the sentence still make sense, you’re using the wrong word.
- Incorrect: "The team is comprised of experts." (The "of" is stuck there).
- Correct: "The team comprises experts." (Clean, lean, and mean).
Go back through your most recent report or essay. Hit Ctrl+F. Search for "comprised." If you see "of" following it, delete it and rewrite the sentence.
Switch to "composed of" if you really want that "of" sound. It's safer. It’s classic. Nobody will ever yell at you for using "composed of."
Start noticing this in the wild. You’ll see it in The New York Times. You’ll see it in The Economist. Those publications almost never get it wrong because they have copy editors who live to hunt down "comprised of" and kill it on sight.
Read your sentences out loud. Does it sound like you're trying too hard? If "comprising" feels like a clunky brick in the middle of your sentence, just swap it for "made up of."
Good writing isn't about using big words. It's about using the right words in the right way. Now that you know how to use comprising in a sentence, you can write with the confidence that you aren't accidentally tripping over your own feet.
Check your work. Kill the "of." Keep your credibility intact. Simple as that.