Compose vs. Consist — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 3, 2024
Compose refers to the act of creating or putting together elements, while consist emphasizes what something is inherently made up of.
Difference Between Compose and Consist
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Compose is about creating or forming something by putting together different parts or elements. It implies an action or process, suggesting that someone or something is actively bringing components together to form a whole. Whereas, consist focuses on the composition or makeup of something, indicating the elements or characteristics that are inherently part of something's structure or essence.
When we say something is composed of various elements, it often suggests a deliberate arrangement or construction, highlighting the role of creativity or intentionality. On the other hand, stating that something consists of certain elements describes its inherent qualities or components, without necessarily implying any act of creation or assembly.
For example, a writer composes a novel by crafting characters, plot, and setting, implying a creative process. Conversely, a novel consists of chapters, characters, and narrative, pointing to its structural components. This distinction emphasizes action in composition versus inherent makeup in consistency.
In music, a composer composes a symphony, indicating the creative process of arranging notes, melodies, and harmonies. Meanwhile, a symphony consists of movements and themes, describing its structural and musical components.
While both terms relate to the idea of elements coming together, compose often requires an active creator or process, and consist describes the natural or intrinsic elements that make up the whole without focusing on the process of creation.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
To create or form by assembling parts
To be made up or constituted
Action vs. State
Action of creating or assembling
State of being made up of
Emphasis
Creative process, arrangement
Inherent composition, makeup
Example Usage
A team is composed of players with various skills.
A team consists of members with specific roles.
Focus
Creator's role in bringing elements together
Elements or parts themselves
Compare with Definitions
Compose
Suggests a deliberate arrangement.
The poem is composed of four stanzas, each with its own rhythm.
Consist
Describes inherent or essential qualities.
Success consists in hard work and determination.
Compose
Often implies intentionality in the selection and arrangement of components.
The garden was composed to provide color throughout the seasons.
Consist
Used to describe what something inherently includes or embodies.
True friendship consists of trust, respect, and understanding.
Compose
To create or put together parts or elements.
The artist composes her paintings with careful attention to color and light.
Consist
Focuses on the makeup or composition.
A balanced diet consists of fruits, vegetables, proteins, and grains.
Compose
Can apply to a wide range of creative and constructive activities.
The committee was composed of members from different departments.
Consist
To be made up or constituted by certain elements.
The committee consists of five members.
Compose
Involves an act of creativity or assembly.
The chef composed a new dish featuring seasonal ingredients.
Consist
Does not imply an act of creation but rather an existing state.
The library's collection consists mainly of historical documents.
Compose
Write or create (a work of art, especially music or poetry)
He composed the First Violin Sonata four years earlier
Consist
To be made up or composed
New York City consists of five boroughs. See Usage Note at include.
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
Consist
To have a basis; reside or lie
The beauty of the artist's style consists in its simplicity.
Compose
Calm or settle (oneself or one's features or thoughts)
She tried to compose herself
Consist
To be compatible; accord
The information consists with her account.
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
Consist
To be.
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.
Consist
To exist.
Compose
To make or create by putting together parts or elements.
Consist
To be comprised or contained.
Compose
To create or produce (a literary or musical piece).
Consist
To be composed, formed, or made up (of).
The greeting package consists of some brochures, a pen, and a notepad.
Compose
To make (oneself) calm or tranquil
Compose yourself and deal with the problems logically.
Consist
(rail transport) A lineup or sequence of railroad carriages or cars, with or without a locomotive, that form a unit.
The train's consist included a baggage car, four passenger cars, and a diner.
Compose
To settle or adjust; reconcile
They managed to compose their differences.
Consist
To stand firm; to be in a fixed or permanent state, as a body composed of parts in union or connection; to hold together; to be; to exist; to subsist; to be supported and maintained.
He is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Compose
To arrange aesthetically or artistically.
Consist
To be composed or made up; - followed by of.
The land would consist of plains and valleys.
Compose
(Printing) To arrange or set (type or matter to be printed).
Consist
To have as its substance or character, or as its foundation; to be; - followed by in.
If their purgation did consist in words.
A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Compose
To create a literary or musical piece.
Consist
To be consistent or harmonious; to be in accordance; - formerly used absolutely, now followed by with.
This was a consisting story.
Health consists with temperance alone.
For orders and degreesJar not with liberty, but well consist.
Compose
(Printing) To set type.
Consist
To insist; - followed by on.
Compose
(transitive) To make something by merging parts.
The editor composed a historical journal from many individual letters.
Consist
Originate (in);
The problems dwell in the social injustices in this country
Compose
(transitive) To make up the whole; to constitute.
A church is composed of its members.
Consist
Have its essential character; be comprised or contained in; be embodied in;
The payment consists in food
What does love consist in?
Compose
To comprise.
Consist
Be consistent in form, tenor, or character; be congruous;
Desires are to be satisfied only so far as consists with an approved end
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.
Consist
Be composed of;
The land he conquered comprised several provinces
What does this dish consist of?
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
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to compose something?
To compose something means to create or form it by bringing together various parts or elements in a deliberate manner.
Does consist imply a passive state?
Yes, to consist of something implies a static state, describing what something is made up of without action or assembly.
Can the terms compose and consist be used interchangeably?
Due to their different focuses (creation vs. makeup), they are not generally interchangeable, though they relate to the idea of elements forming a whole.
Is composing always a creative process?
While often associated with creativity, composing can also refer to the act of assembling or organizing components in non-creative contexts.
How do compose and consist relate in writing?
A writer composes a story (creative process), but the story consists of characters, plot, setting (inherent components).
How does the distinction affect interpretation in art?
In art, compose emphasizes the artist's process of creation, while consist points to what the artwork inherently includes or portrays.
How is consist different from compose?
Consist describes what something is made up of inherently, focusing on its components, whereas compose involves the act of creating or arranging those components.
Can a single item both compose and consist of elements?
Yes, in different contexts: it may be composed of elements through a creative process and consist of those elements as its inherent makeup.
Are there disciplines where compose and consist overlap?
In disciplines like music and literature, the terms overlap but retain their distinct meanings related to creation and inherent structure, respectively.
How do cultural perceptions influence the understanding of compose vs. consist?
Cultural perceptions may influence the emphasis on the creative process (compose) versus the appreciation of inherent qualities (consist) in understanding and valuing works of art, literature, or other creations.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Beneficiary vs. Payee
Next Comparison
Minification vs. ObfuscationAuthor Spotlight
Written by
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.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
