Comprise vs Compose
Published January 18, 2023. Updated January 18, 2023.
Comprise and Compose may look and sound the same, but they have different meanings and uses. Comprise is a verb meaning “to include.” Compose is a verb meaning “to be a part of.” Keeping the two words straight can be tricky, especially when it comes to the term “comprised of.” The jury is out on whether or not this term is acceptable, but to be safe, consider the correct term “composed of,” as in “the meal is composed of three courses.”
Here are some definitions and examples to help clarify the meaning of these words.
Comprise (verb)
To include.
Examples:
The class comprises twenty-four students.
The play comprises three acts, each comprising ten scenes.
In both examples, the subject performing the verb comprise is a whole. Comprises is synonymous with includes, meaning the parts included that form the whole.
Compose (verb)
To be a part of.
Examples:
The band is composed of a singer, a guitarist, a bassist, and a drummer.
Eight wolves compose the pack.
Main Points
- Comprise is a verb meaning “to include.”
- Compose is a verb meaning “to be a part of.”
- The jury is out whether or not this term is acceptable, but to be safe, consider the correct term “composed of.”