Comprised Of vs. Composed Of
Cambridge documents “be comprised of” as a passive construction and “be composed of” as the passive pattern for compose. Active “comprises” can describe a whole containing its parts, so sentence structure matters more than a blanket prohibition.
Both “is comprised of” and “is composed of” are documented constructions. Cambridge also uses active “comprises,” so “comprised of” is not universally wrong.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Context or meaning | Choose | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| whole contains parts | X comprises A and B | active comprise |
| whole is made up of parts | X is comprised of A and B | documented passive |
| whole is formed from parts | X is composed of A and B | documented passive |
Further guidance
Core difference
Use “is composed of” for a straightforward passive with compose; “is comprised of” is also documented; active “comprises” is another established option.
Usage Boundary
A style preference against “comprised of” should not be mislabeled as a universal grammar ban.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Consist, comprise or compose? (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary / English Grammar Today · Grammar and voice patterns for comprise and compose