What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
consist
Example
The cake consists of flour, sugar, eggs, and butter. [consists: verb]
Example
The atmosphere consists mainly of nitrogen and oxygen. [consists: verb]
Example
Her personality consists of kindness, intelligence, and humor. [consists: verb]
comprise
Example
The committee comprises five members. [comprises: verb]
Example
The United States comprises fifty states. [comprises: verb]
Example
The menu comprises a variety of dishes from different cuisines. [comprises: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Consist is more commonly used than comprise in everyday language. Consist is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while comprise is less common and considered more formal.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between consist and comprise?
Comprise is considered more formal than consist. It is often used in academic or technical writing, while consist is more commonly used in everyday language.
