Compose Yourself to Comprise Clarity

Compose vs. Comprise

The words “compose” and “comprise” are used to talk about parts and whole things. They can be confusing, but I will help you understand them.

History

“Compose” comes from a Latin word that means “to put together.” “Comprise” comes from a French word that means “to include.” These words have been used in English for a long time.

How to Use Them

Compose

When you use “compose,” you talk about putting parts together to make a whole. It often means “made up of.”

Example sentences:

• The cake is composed of flour, sugar, and eggs.
• The band is composed of five musicians.
• The puzzle is composed of 50 pieces.
• The committee is composed of teachers and parents.
• The song is composed of different instruments.

Comprise

When you use “comprise,” you talk about the whole thing including all its parts. It often means “includes.”

Example sentences:

• The cake comprises flour, sugar, and eggs.
• The band comprises five musicians.
• The puzzle comprises 50 pieces.
• The committee comprises teachers and parents.
• The song comprises different instruments.

Trick to Remember the Difference

One trick to remember is to think: “The whole comprises the parts. The parts compose the whole.”

Summary

“Compose” means to put parts together to make a whole. “Comprise” means the whole includes its parts.

Remember:

• The cake is composed of ingredients.
• The cake comprises ingredients.

Now you can use “compose” and “comprise” correctly!