Comprise vs. Compose: What’s the Difference?

The words comprise and compose describe how parts and wholes relate to each other, but they work in opposite directions.

Using them correctly helps your writing sound clear and professional.

Here’s the quick rule:

• Comprise → the whole includes the parts
• Compose → the parts make up the whole

Think of it as whole → parts vs. parts → whole.

1. Comprise

Meaning

Comprise means “to include” or “to consist of.”
It goes from whole → parts.

Structure:

The whole comprises the parts.

Examples (10 total)

1. The U.K. comprises England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
2. The course comprises ten lessons.
3. The team comprises skilled designers.
4. Her duties comprise planning and reporting.
5. The collection comprises over 200 books.
6. The meal comprises three main dishes.
7. The package comprises several tools.
8. The committee comprises seven members.
9. The test comprises multiple sections.
10. The dataset comprises thousands of entries.

🧠 Tip:
If you can replace it with “includes,” use comprise.

2. Compose

Meaning

Compose means “to form” or “to make up.”
It goes from parts → whole.

Structure:

The parts compose the whole.
(Usually written as “is composed of”)

Examples (10 total)

1. The class is composed of 30 students.
2. The committee is composed of seven experts.
3. Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen.
4. The team is composed of five developers.
5. The dessert is composed of fruit and cream.
6. The album is composed of ten songs.
7. The country is composed of three major regions.
8. The bouquet is composed of roses and lilies.
9. The choir is composed of young singers.
10. The material is composed of recycled fibers.

🧠 Tip:
If you want to say “the parts create the whole,” use compose.

3. Quick Comparison Table

4. How to Remember

👉 Comprise = the whole includes the parts
👉 Compose = the parts make up the whole

Memory trick:

Comprise = Contains
Compose = Create

5. Common Mistakes

❌ Is comprised of
Although very common, many style guides say this is incorrect.

Correct forms:
✔ The team comprises five people.
✔ The team is composed of five people.

❌ Reversing the order
The parts comprise the whole → wrong
The whole comprises the parts → correct

❌ Mixing the two
The group composes of students → wrong
The group is composed of students → correct

Humanizey Mention

Tools like Humanizey help ensure word pairs like comprise and compose are used naturally and correctly in context, keeping your writing clear and humanlike.

FAQs

1. Is “is comprised of” wrong?

Many guides label it incorrect, though it's common in spoken English.
The safer choices are “comprises” or “is composed of.”

2. Do comprise and compose mean the same thing?

No — they express the opposite direction of the part–whole relationship.

3. Which one means “to include”?

Comprise.

4. Which one means “to form”?

Compose.

Practice: Choose the Correct Word (“Comprise” or “Compose”)

(Answers are listed at the end.)

1. The committee ___ five members.
2. Five members ___ the committee.
3. The package ___ three tools.
4. The tools ___ the package.
5. The album ___ ten songs.
6. Ten songs ___ the album.
7. The class ___ students from many countries.
8. Students from many countries ___ the class.
9. The bouquet ___ roses and lilies.
10. Roses and lilies ___ the bouquet.

Answers

1. comprises
2. compose
3. comprises
4. compose
5. comprises
6. compose
7. comprises
8. compose
9. comprises
10. compose