Comprise vs. Consist — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 12, 2023
Comprise" means to include or contain, while "Consist" means to be made up of.
Difference Between Comprise and Consist
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Comprise primarily refers to the idea of including or containing different parts or elements. Consist, on the other hand, is often about being composed or made up of certain elements or parts.
The whole comprises the parts, and this relationship denotes an all-encompassing nature. Conversely, when something consists of particular components, it signifies that these components collectively form the entirety of that thing.
For instance, a book comprises chapters, implying that the book includes these chapters within its entirety. In contrast, a book consists of chapters, indicating that chapters are the constitutive elements of the book.
A musical album comprises several tracks, suggesting an inclusive relationship. On the other hand, when an album consists of songs, it communicates that the songs make up the complete album.
Finally, while comprise encompasses or includes the components within a whole, consist emphasizes the composition of the whole by its individual parts.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
To include or contain
To be made up of
Usage Direction
Whole comprises parts
Whole consists of parts
Example
The USA comprises 50 states.
The USA consists of 50 states.
Grammatical Use
Passive voice ("is comprised of") is often considered incorrect
Commonly followed by "of"
Nuance
More about inclusion
More about composition
Compare with Definitions
Comprise
To embody or represent.
This building comprises the architectural style of the 18th century.
Consist
To have a basis; to reside or lie.
True happiness consists in contentment.
Comprise
To constitute; to amount to.
These documents comprise the entirety of the evidence.
Consist
To be composed or made up of.
The cake consists of three layers.
Comprise
To be equivalent to.
His actions comprise a breach of contract.
Consist
To be consistent or harmonious.
Their stories don't consist with the facts.
Comprise
To consist of; to be made up of.
The team comprises experts from different fields.
Consist
To be fixed or settled.
The rules consist for the entire season.
Comprise
To include or embrace.
The collection comprises various artifacts.
Consist
To exist or be found.
His daily routine consists of reading, exercising, and working.
Comprise
To be composed of or contain
The staff comprises eight physicians, two dozen nurses, and various administrative people.
Consist
To be made up or composed
New York City consists of five boroughs. See Usage Note at include.
Comprise
Usage Problem To compose; make up; constitute
The countries and territories that comprised the British Empire.
Consist
To have a basis; reside or lie
The beauty of the artist's style consists in its simplicity.
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.
Consist
To be compatible; accord
The information consists with her account.
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.
Consist
To be.
Comprise
To contain or embrace.
Our committee comprises a president, secretary, treasurer and five other members.
Consist
To exist.
Comprise
(patent law) To include, contain, or be made up of, defining the minimum elements, whether essential or inessential to define an invention.
Consist
To be comprised or contained.
Comprise
To comprehend; to include.
Comprise much matter in few words.
Friendship does two souls in one comprise.
Consist
To be composed, formed, or made up (of).
The greeting package consists of some brochures, a pen, and a notepad.
Comprise
Be composed of;
The land he conquered comprised several provinces
What does this dish consist of?
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.
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
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.
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
Consist
To be composed or made up; - followed by of.
The land would consist of plains and valleys.
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.
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.
Consist
To insist; - followed by on.
Consist
Originate (in);
The problems dwell in the social injustices in this country
Consist
Have its essential character; be comprised or contained in; be embodied in;
The payment consists in food
What does love consist in?
Consist
Be consistent in form, tenor, or character; be congruous;
Desires are to be satisfied only so far as consists with an approved end
Consist
Be composed of;
The land he conquered comprised several provinces
What does this dish consist of?
Common Curiosities
What's the main difference between "comprise" and "consist"?
"Comprise" emphasizes inclusion, while "consist" emphasizes composition.
How is "comprise" typically used in a sentence?
"Comprise" is often used to denote inclusion, e.g., "The anthology comprises ten stories."
Can "consist" be used without "of"?
Typically, "consist" is followed by "of" when indicating composition, e.g., "The meal consists of three courses."
How do I decide between using "comprise" or "consist"?
Think about emphasis: "comprise" for inclusion and "consist" for composition.
Does "consist" always imply multiple components?
Typically, but not always. For example, "The essence of the plan consists in its simplicity."
Is "consist in" a correct usage?
Yes, "consist in" means to have something as an essential feature, e.g., "Happiness consists in simplicity."
Is "is comprised of" correct?
"Is comprised of" is often considered redundant or incorrect. Prefer "comprises" or "is composed of."
Does "comprise" have synonyms?
Yes, "include," "contain," and "embrace" are some synonyms for "comprise."
Can both "comprise" and "consist" denote composition?
Yes, but their usage differs. For example, "The cake comprises three ingredients" vs. "The cake consists of three ingredients."
Can "consist" mean "to exist"?
Yes, in contexts like "The beauty of this place consists in its tranquility."
Can "comprise" be used to indicate representation?
Yes, e.g., "The council comprises representatives from each district."
How is "consist" used to indicate harmony or agreement?
For example, "Their accounts don't consist," meaning their stories are not in agreement.
Can "comprise" and "consist" be used interchangeably?
Not always. While both can relate to components, their usage and emphasis can differ.
Which is more formal: "comprise" or "consist"?
Both are formal and can be used in academic and professional contexts.
How is "comprise" used in legal contexts?
It can denote inclusion, e.g., "The agreement comprises several clauses."
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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.
