Comprising

Comprising is the present participle form of the verb comprise. In English, comprise means to consist of or to be made up of something. When used, comprising introduces the components that form a whole, typically in noun phrases or adjective clauses. For example, “a group comprising researchers from five countries” or “a list comprising ten items” shows how comprising identifies the elements included.

Usage notes and variations are common in practice. The basic, traditional rule states that the whole consists of its parts, so one often sees the active construction “X comprises Y and Z.” The passive form “X is comprised of Y and Z” also appears in modern writing, but some style guides prefer alternatives such as “X is made up of Y and Z” or “X consists of Y and Z.” When used as an adjective, comprising can modify a noun to describe the set of elements in scope, as in “a committee comprising ten members.”

Etymology and related terms provide further context. Comprise comes from the Latin comprehendere via Old French comprendre, meaning to grasp or include. Related verbs include consist of, be made up of, include, and contain; to compose means to form or create by putting together parts. Understanding the distinction among these terms helps avoid common misusages, particularly in formal or technical writing where precision about what is included versus what is formed is important.