Comments on: Comprise vs. Compose

By: Jon V.

Jon V. — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:37:34 +0000

Agree with Cindy. I learned, "A zoo comrises animals; animals compose a zoo."

By: Cindy K.

Cindy K. — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 02:33:38 +0000

The whole comprises the parts; the parts compose the whole is how the American Heritage Dictionary clarifies and promotes the correct usage of these two terms.

How passive vs. active voice enters in is another issue entirely. The example above for "compose" basically straddles both, and would technically be incorrect

By: Off to Stockholm, With Many Caveats | Jen Is Famous

Off to Stockholm, With Many Caveats | Jen Is Famous — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:27:34 +0000

[...] did have an aisle seat. I’m going to go sit in it now. More soon! *I struggled with “comprises” versus “is composed of” and went for [...]

By: Bruce Morgan

Bruce Morgan — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:02:47 +0000

I think the last respondant almost got it right. The way I learned it was as follows:

1. The whole is composed of its parts.
2. The parts comprise the whole.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 21 May 2009 21:11:18 +0000

I once heard this and it stuck: "The whole comprises the parts, while the parts compose the whole."

By: Lee

Lee — Thu, 21 May 2009 05:42:12 +0000

The link you refer to says "comprised of" is acceptable, is that what you meant at the top, or was "comprise of" actually what was used? The last version seems totally wrong.