Comprised vs. Composed / Comprise vs. Compose

They are NOT interchangeable or synonyms!

Which do you mean to say? If you don't know, you may as well speak ebonics in the ears of someone who does know. I am struggling through a book written by a jen-you-wine DOCTOR, who does not know the difference between the words compose and comprise.

This is comprised of that <--NO!
This comprises that <--YES!
This is composed of that <--YES!

Consulting The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language (as all American English speakers should) we find the following definitions:

com·prise
tr.v. com·prised, com·pris·ing, com·pris·es
1. To consist of; be composed of: "The French got ... French Equatorial Africa, comprising several territories" (Alex Shoumatoff).
2. To include; contain: "The word 'politics' ... comprises, in itself, a difficult study of no inconsiderable magnitude" (Charles Dickens). See Synonyms at include.
3. Usage Problem To compose; constitute: "Put together the slaughterhouses, the steel mills, the freight yards ... that comprised the city" (Saul Bellow).

Usage Note: The traditional rule states that the whole comprises the parts and the parts compose the whole. In strict usage: The Union comprises 50 states. Fifty states compose (or constitute or make up) the Union. Even though careful writers often maintain this distinction, comprise is increasingly used in place of compose, especially in the passive: The Union is comprised of 50 states. Our surveys show that opposition to this usage is abating. In the 1960s, 53 percent of the Usage Panel found this usage unacceptable; in 1996, only 35 percent objected. See Usage Note at include.


com·pose
v. com·posed, com·pos·ing, com·pos·es
v. tr.
1. To make up the constituent parts of; constitute or form: an exhibit composed of French paintings; the many ethnic groups that compose our nation. See Usage Note at comprise.
2. To make or create by putting together parts or elements.
3. To create or produce (a literary or musical piece).
4. To make (oneself) calm or tranquil: Compose yourself and deal with the problems logically.
6. To arrange aesthetically or artistically.
7. Printing To arrange or set (type or matter to be printed).


My comment on the on the Usage Note above: With all due respect to the Usage Panel, just because it's becoming increasingly common does not mean it's okay.

Do the right thing. Choose the proper word.

dic·tion
n.
1. Choice and use of words in speech or writing.