Dear Legal Writer:

Dear Legal Writer: If you write “is comprised of” or “is comprised by,” you need to read this.

See if you know which of these 3 sentences is correct:

A: The cake comprised 6 ingredients.
B: The cake was comprised by 6 ingredients.
C: The cake was comprised of 6 ingredients.

Not sure?
Here’s an explanation.

✏️ “To comprise” = “to contain,” “to consist of,” or “to be composed of.”

✅ All these sentences are correct:

-The whole contains its parts.

-The whole consists of its parts.

-The whole is composed of its parts.

-The whole comprises its parts.

📍 There is NO such thing as “is comprised of” or “is comprised by.”

Answer “A” is correct.

***
✅ More correct examples:

-The brief comprises four main arguments.

-The committee comprises three subcommittees.

-The prior sentence comprised 5 words.

-The statute comprises 4 sections.

-Plaintiffs’ argument comprises two flawed theories.

***

I have yet to discover a clever memory device. 🗳️ Have you?

The best way for me to learn how to use a word or phrase is to start using it correctly and regularly.

For a while with something new, I still have to double check the meaning when I use, but it eventually becomes second nature.

👉 Give it a try! Use “comprise” today.

Fondly,
💌 Amanda

P.S. I am not a PATENT lawyer, but my understanding is that in that context, a key difference exists between “to comprise” and “to consist of.”
—“To comprise” is “open.” It connotes non-comprehensiveness, so if an invention comprises elements A and B, the invention may also include other elements.
—“To consist of,” by contrast, is “closed” and is comprehensive, so if an invention consists of A and B, the invention may not also contain other elements.

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