[CompSci87]

The one that gets me, and that people who I think should know better confuse a lot, is "comprise" vs. "compose." If what I learned is correct, it's never right to say "this group is comprised of x, y and z." It is composed of x, y and z (or to put it the other way, x, y and z compose this group). To the knowledgeable ones here -- is that right? What I was told is that comprise means include. So something is not going to "be included of" x, y and z.

This one gets me too. "Comprise" has been a vogue word for a few years, and I almost always hear it used incorrectly. Really, there is little or no reason ever to use the word -- "is composed of" and "consists of" are more familiar phrases that both mean the same thing as "comprises" and are not much longer.

The misuse seems to be getting worse. Not only do I hear "is comprised of" where "is composed of" would be correct., but I've also started hearing people say or write "comprises of" where "consists of" (or simply "comprises"!) would be correct.

[CompSci87]

The one that gets me, and that people who I think should know better confuse a lot, is "comprise" vs. "compose." If what I learned is correct, it's never right to say "this group is comprised of x, y and z." It is composed of x, y and z (or to put it the other way, x, y and z compose this group). To the knowledgeable ones here -- is that right? What I was told is that comprise means include. So something is not going to "be included of" x, y and z.

This one gets me too. "Comprise" has been a vogue word for a few years, and I almost always hear it used incorrectly. Really, there is little or no reason ever to use the word -- "is composed of" and "consists of" are more familiar phrases that both mean the same thing as "comprises" and are not much longer.

The misuse seems to be getting worse. Not only do I hear "is comprised of" where "is composed of" would be correct., but I've also started hearing people say or write "comprises of" where "consists of" (or simply "comprises"!) would be correct.