to be comprised of

Question

Hello,I have a question on using the word "comprise". I wonder if it is no difference to say:a) the collection comprises 202 paintingsb) the collection is comprised of 202 paintingsCould you give a hand with this?Thanks

Marius Hancu · Accepted Answer

Both correct, but the 2nd is less popular:

54 from bbc.co.uk for "collection comprises"
0 from bbc.co.uk for "collection is comprised of" (It may be that the BrE usage is more negative towards it)

124 from nytimes.com for "collection comprises"
4 from nytimes.com for "collection is comprised of"

BarbaraPA · Answer

This is one of those things that people have been taught are "right" and "wrong" but in the end might not actually be so. I was one of those people who was taught that the whole comprises the many, and it should NEVER be used with "of."

So, I would have said that b is wrong. But it's used so often that either it isn't really wrong, or the incorrect is just rampant and few now recognizes it as being wrong.

EDITED: Ah, see this: http://www.bartleby.com/64/C003/070.html

If you follow the traditional rule, you say that the whole comprises the parts and that the parts compose the whole. Thus you would say The Union comprises fifty states and Fifty states compose (or constitute or make up) the Union. While writers often maintain this distinction, comprise is increasingly used in place of compose, especially in the passive: The Union is comprised of fifty states. Don’t be surprised if this usage still elicits comments, however. In an earlier survey, a majority of the Usage Panel found this use of comprise unacceptable.

Marius Hancu · Answer

Also:

Confused usage of comprise

Je_nie_dieu · Answer

Thank you once again, yet I have a question I'm a bit ashamed of

Marius, how do I search by google in a certain site?

Marius Hancu · Answer

Je_nie_dieuThank you once again, yet I have a question I'm a bit ashamed of

Marius, how do I search by google in a certain site?

You must first go to Google:

as this site-oriented search may not work from other engines.

Then, use a parameter "site" in the search field, indicating the name of the site through which you want the Google engine to go though, in this case for the term "computer expert"

site:nytimes.com "computer expert"
site:bbc.co.uk "computer expert"
(you don't need to type the "www." part of the site name in)

If you want to do a site-independent search (for the whole Web), do NOT use the site field, search just for:

"computer expert"

Click the Google Search button.
Look at the top of the results page, for the statistics/hits.

Je_nie_dieu · Answer

Wow, your answer is definitely a comprehensive one! ( I hope I do not sound awkward)

Thanks A LOT

to be comprised of

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