Comprise and Composed Of
“Comprise” and “compose” are not interchangeable! But “comprise” and “composed of” are. I found these usages in an interesting article about small towns that are good places to visit—https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/the-15-best-small-towns-to-visit-in-2022-180980129. (I’ve been to two of them).
“Comprise” goes from the whole to its parts:
The massive mural, painted by Navajo artist Chester Kahn and comprising 65 portraits of Navajo individuals, including past politicians and unsung leaders, is one of more than two dozen murals gracing the exteriors of downtown.
“Composed of” also goes from the whole:
Today, Chillicothe’s Hopewell Culture National Historical Park and a couple of nearby properties house the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks—eight archaeological sites of the Hopewell Indigenous people composed of ceremonial earthen wall enclosures, each made up of varying geometric forms and dating back nearly 2,000 years.
Each site has enclosures. They look like mounds in the picture
Do not say “is comprised of”!
Ah yes, the comprised/composed thing. My tech writing mentor is a real stickler on this one, so I keep a bookmark to her favorite reference. I still look it up every time.
This is a great website. Your wife referred me here after I sent her some community solar grant info and let my day job slip out. My wife doesn’t seem to appreciate it when I correct her grammar while she’s trying to teach our kids how to speak, so I’m sure you can relate. Keep up the great work!
Yup—I try to make it a rule never to correct anyone’s English unless they ask.