Comprise / Compose / Include / Contain / Constitute
UsageA whole comprises or contains its parts; parts compose or constitute a whole. Include introduces members or examples. Write “comprises”, not “comprises of”.
Comprise
Use when
The whole contains or consists of the parts.
Example
“The working group comprises representatives from six agencies.”
Compose
Use when
The parts make up the whole, or the whole is made up of the parts.
Example
“Representatives from six agencies compose the working group.”
Include
Use when
You are naming members or examples without relying on the word to signal a complete list.
Example
“The review will include interviews with service teams and vendors.”
Contain
Use when
You mean hold something within a document, system, place or boundary.
Example
“The annex contains the detailed risk assessment.”
Constitute
Use when
The parts collectively form the whole, especially in formal writing.
Example
“These three workstreams constitute the transformation programme.”
Quick check
comprises of, is comprised of
Usage note
“Is comprised of” is common but still draws criticism. Use “comprises” or “is composed of” when you want wording that will travel cleanly.