Comprise vs. Compose: The Whole and Its Parts

The Direction Matters

• Comprise = the whole contains/includes the parts
• Compose = the parts make up the whole

Think of it as looking from different directions at the same relationship.

Comprise: Whole First

The larger thing “comprises” the smaller things it contains:

• “The committee comprises twelve members.” ✓
• “The album comprises ten songs.” ✓
• “The United States comprises fifty states.” ✓

The whole comes first, then what it contains.

Compose: Parts First

The smaller things “compose” the larger thing:

• “Twelve members compose the committee.” ✓
• “Ten songs compose the album.” ✓
• “Fifty states compose the United States.” ✓

The parts come first, then what they create together.

The Big Mistake: “Comprised Of”

This is technically wrong:

• “The committee is comprised of twelve members.” ✗

Why? “Comprise” already means “is made up of.” Adding “of” is redundant.

Better options:

• “The committee comprises twelve members.” ✓
• “The committee is composed of twelve members.” ✓
• “The committee consists of twelve members.” ✓

The Memory Device

Comprise = Contains (the whole Contains the parts) Compose = Creates (the parts Create the whole)

Or remember: “The whole comprises the parts; the parts compose the whole.”

Passive Voice Fix

If you want to use passive voice, use “composed of,” not “comprised of”:

• “The team is composed of experts from various fields.” ✓
• “Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen.” ✓

Quick Reference

Sentence Start	Verb to Use
The whole…	comprises
The parts…	compose
…is _____ of	composed (not comprised)

Real-World Examples

Comprise (whole → parts):

• “The anthology comprises poems, essays, and short stories.”
• “Our department comprises three divisions.”

Compose (parts → whole):

• “Poems, essays, and short stories compose the anthology.”
• “Three divisions compose our department.”

Remember

• Comprise = the whole includes (never use “of” after it)
• Compose = the parts create (can use “composed of”)