The truth about “comprises”

Dear editors,

Lately, I’ve been noticing some confusion about comprises. I’m here to tell you how to use the word according to our style.

In AP Style and Eater/Curbed Style, comprise means to contain, to include all, or embrace. It is best used only in the active voice, followed by a direct object: The United States comprises 50 states. The jury comprises five men and seven women. The zoo comprises many animals. On Eater and Curbed, that is the correct use of comprise.

But what about “is comprised of”?

I bet you’ve seen — or used — comprise as part of the phrase is comprised of: The United States is comprised of 50 states. The zoo is comprised of many animals.

The word comprise is a verb meaning “to be composed of.” As such, AP Stylebook claims that writing is comprised of is equivalent to writing is included of.

But the truth is, although most grammar manuals prefer comprises, there isn’t exactly a consensus on the matter. The Oxford English Dictionary states that the construction “is comprised of” is incorrect, but Collins English Dictionary does not, mentioning “is comprised of” among its examples. Writers like Anthony Trollope and Henry James have used the construction. And, as of 2007, 134,000 American patents employ the phrase.

Those in favor of is comprised of would say that comprised is a participial adjective if it takes as its complement a prepositional phrase starting with the word of. Whew. That would put it in a category with words like terrified (“he is terrified of grammar”) and tired (“she was tired of hearing about Elon Musk”).

What’s the bottom line?

Since first appearing in the English language in the 15th century, comprise has become a contested word. But today, for our purposes, comprises is the way to go. One nice thing about writing within the boundaries of a style guide is that we can choose a side and stick to it. And as someone who strives toward concision, I like that our style favors the one-word version.

Or, if you’d rather stay neutral, consists of works too.

A few recent examples from our sites:

• The massive home now comprises four bedrooms and five baths.
• The design team at 111 West 57th Street comprises SHoP Architects and Studio Sofield.
• The memorial comprises nine large boulders that sit in a circular pattern.
• The bar comprises three connected sections.
• It will be in the so-called pier village, which comprises six two-story buildings with restaurants and bars, all with a view of the Brooklyn Bridge and the East River.
• Similar to the spiraling arrondissements of Paris, Rome comprises 22 numbered rioni, or districts, that define the city’s central neighborhoods.

Other Copy News

We added some new words to our lists! Here they are: megamansion, master plan, shortcut, kung pao, mapo tofu, sherry, sherries, Isan, and guerrilla.

How Gmail’s suggested replies affect our lexicon. An argument against Microsoft Word. And the latest edition of the New York Times copy quiz.

Have a great week,

Emma