Compose vs. Comprise — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 27, 2023
Compose means to create or form, often used in artistic contexts, while comprise means to consist of or include, describing components making up a whole.
Difference Between Compose and Comprise
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Compose refers to the act of creating, arranging, or forming something, particularly in artistic or literary contexts. Comprise, however, indicates what something is made of or the elements included in it.
Compose is often used to describe the creative process, such as composing music or literature. Comprise is used to express the makeup of a whole, describing its parts or constituents.
The term compose implies the action of putting together or constructing. In contrast, comprise implies a state of containing or including certain elements.
To compose is to bring together elements to create something new or cohesive. To comprise is to embody or include all necessary parts within a whole.
In usage, "compose" is often followed by the object being created, while "comprise" is followed by the elements that make up the whole.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To create or form something
To consist of or include
Context
Often artistic or literary
Descriptive of components making up a whole
Action vs. State
Implies action of constructing or creating
Implies state of containing or including
Usage Structure
Followed by the object being created
Followed by elements that make up the whole
Implication
Bringing together elements to create something
Embodying all necessary parts
Compare with Definitions
Compose
To form or make up.
Several different spices compose the secret recipe.
Comprise
To embody or encompass.
The course comprises lectures, workshops, and practical sessions.
Compose
To calm or settle oneself.
After the shock, he took a moment to compose himself.
Comprise
To constitute or represent.
Women comprise a significant portion of the workforce.
Compose
To arrange or put in order.
The photographer took time to compose the perfect shot.
Comprise
To include, contain, or consist of.
The committee comprises members from different departments.
Compose
To construct or create written material.
He composed a heartfelt letter to his friend.
Comprise
To form or make up a whole.
Fifty states comprise the United States.
Compose
Write or create (a work of art, especially music or poetry)
He composed the First Violin Sonata four years earlier
Comprise
To be made up of.
The collection comprises rare artifacts from ancient civilizations.
Compose
(of elements) constitute or make up (a whole, or a specified part of it)
Christians compose 40 per cent of the state's population
The National Congress is composed of ten senators
Comprise
To be composed of or contain
The staff comprises eight physicians, two dozen nurses, and various administrative people.
Compose
Calm or settle (oneself or one's features or thoughts)
She tried to compose herself
Comprise
Usage Problem To compose; make up; constitute
The countries and territories that comprised the British Empire.
Compose
Prepare (a text) for printing by manually, mechanically, or electronically setting up the letters and other characters in the order to be printed
In offices where close-set text was composed both men and women pieceworkers were normally employed
Comprise
(transitive) To be made up of; to consist of (especially a comprehensive list of parts).
The whole comprises the parts.
The parts are comprised by the whole.
Compose
To make up the constituent parts of; constitute or form
An exhibit composed of French paintings.
The many ethnic groups that compose our nation. See Usage Note at comprise.
Comprise
To compose; to constitute.In the passive voice, the use of of with comprise (is/are comprised of) may be regarded as tautological because the same meaning can be expressed in the active (comprises) without of, or with composed of, which is both synonymous and non-tautological (since compose in this sense always requires of).
The whole is comprised of the parts.
The parts comprise the whole.
Compose
To make or create by putting together parts or elements.
Comprise
To contain or embrace.
Our committee comprises a president, secretary, treasurer and five other members.
Compose
To create or produce (a literary or musical piece).
Comprise
(patent law) To include, contain, or be made up of, defining the minimum elements, whether essential or inessential to define an invention.
Compose
To make (oneself) calm or tranquil
Compose yourself and deal with the problems logically.
Comprise
To comprehend; to include.
Comprise much matter in few words.
Friendship does two souls in one comprise.
Compose
To settle or adjust; reconcile
They managed to compose their differences.
Comprise
Be composed of;
The land he conquered comprised several provinces
What does this dish consist of?
Compose
To arrange aesthetically or artistically.
Comprise
Include or contain; have as a component;
A totally new idea is comprised in this paper
The record contains many old songs from the 1930's
Compose
(Printing) To arrange or set (type or matter to be printed).
Comprise
Form or compose;
This money is my only income
The stone wall was the backdrop for the performance
These constitute my entire belonging
The children made up the chorus
This sum represents my entire income for a year
These few men comprise his entire army
Compose
To create a literary or musical piece.
Compose
(Printing) To set type.
Compose
(transitive) To make something by merging parts.
The editor composed a historical journal from many individual letters.
Compose
(transitive) To make up the whole; to constitute.
A church is composed of its members.
Compose
To comprise.
Compose
To construct by mental labor; to think up; particularly, to produce or create a literary or musical work.
The orator composed his speech over the week prior.
Nine numbered symphonies, including the Fifth, were composed by Beethoven.
It's difficult to compose without absolute silence.
Compose
To calm; to free from agitation.
Try to compose your thoughts.
The defendant couldn't compose herself and was found in contempt.
Compose
To arrange the elements of a photograph or other picture.
Compose
To settle (an argument, dispute etc.); to come to a settlement.
Compose
To arrange in proper form; to reduce to order; to put in proper state or condition.
Compose
To arrange (types) in a composing stick for printing; to typeset.
Compose
To form by putting together two or more things or parts; to put together; to make up; to fashion.
Zeal ought to be composed of the highest degrees of all pious affection.
Compose
To form the substance of, or part of the substance of; to constitute.
Their borrowed gold composedThe calf in Oreb.
A few useful things . . . compose their intellectual possessions.
Compose
To construct by mental labor; to design and execute, or put together, in a manner involving the adaptation of forms of expression to ideas, or to the laws of harmony or proportion; as, to compose a sentence, a sermon, a symphony, or a picture.
Let me composeSomething in verse as well as prose.
The genius that composed such works as the "Standard" and "Last Supper".
Compose
To dispose in proper form; to reduce to order; to put in proper state or condition; to adjust; to regulate.
In a peaceful grave my corpse compose.
How in safety best we mayCompose our present evils.
Compose
To free from agitation or disturbance; to tranquilize; to soothe; to calm; to quiet.
Compose thy mind;Nor frauds are here contrived, nor force designed.
Compose
To arrange (types) in a composing stick in order for printing; to set (type).
Compose
To come to terms.
Compose
Form the substance of;
Greed and ambition composed his personality
Compose
Write music;
Beethoven composed nine symphonies
Compose
Produce a literary work;
She composed a poem
He wrote four novels
Compose
Put together out of existing material;
Compile a list
Compose
Calm (someone, especially oneself); make quiet;
She had to compose herself before she could reply to this terrible insult
Compose
Draw up the plans or basic details for;
Frame a policy
Compose
To create or put together, particularly in art or literature.
She loves to compose music in her free time.
Common Curiosities
Can compose refer to emotional states?
Yes, compose can mean to calm or settle oneself, as in composing one's thoughts or emotions.
Does comprise imply a complete set?
Yes, comprise typically implies all parts that make up a whole.
What's the main difference between compose and comprise?
Compose refers to creating or forming, while comprise means to consist of or include.
Is it correct to say "comprised of"?
Traditionally, "comprised of" is considered incorrect; instead, use "comprises" or "is composed of."
Can compose be used for physical assembly?
Yes, compose can also mean to arrange or put together physical objects.
Can compose be used in a non-artistic context?
Yes, compose can also mean to form or put together in a broader sense.
Does compose always imply creativity?
Often, but not always, as it can also mean to put together or arrange.
Is it correct to use comprise for a part of a whole?
No, comprise should refer to the whole that includes all parts.
Is it correct to say a part comprises a whole?
No, it's more accurate to say a whole comprises its parts.
Can both words be used interchangeably?
No, they have distinct meanings and are not interchangeable.
Does comprise imply inclusion of all necessary parts?
Yes, it implies that all parts necessary for the whole are included.
Can comprise be used in a figurative sense?
It's less common, but it can be used figuratively to indicate inclusion of elements in a non-literal whole.
Is it grammatically correct to use "is composed of"?
Yes, "is composed of" is grammatically correct and often used.
Can comprise be used to list parts individually?
Yes, comprise can be used to enumerate individual parts of a whole.
Can compose be used in a technical or scientific context?
Yes, it can be used to describe the formation or creation in such contexts.
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Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
