Learn English – When do you use what word to express that something consists of something else

differencesmeaningverbsword-usage

There are various ways of saying that something consists of something else:

  • composed of
  • comprised of
  • contained in
  • consist of

Maybe there are more. Are there hard and fast rules when to use which or are they synonyms?

Best Answer

Here are some thoughts:

  • "composed of" refers to the parts of a thing from the point of view of the subject
  • "comprising" or "comprises" (not "comprised of" though ardent descriptivists will gnash their teeth at me) can refer to either.
  • "contained in" refers to the container from the point of view of its constituent parts
  • "consist of" or "consists of" refers to the elements of a thing, with the added implication that these elements are sine qua non — without them, the thing would not be what it is.
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