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Wikipedia user edits over 90k uses of “comprised of”

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Re: Wikipedia user edits over 90k uses of “comprised of”

#251

Post by vajrabum »

denton-scratch wrote: post #214

"Comprises" means "consists of". So "comprised of" means "consists of of". It's not just that some people dislike it; it's simply wrong. Whenever I come across the word "utilize" in WP, I change it to "use" (with the edit comment "Don't utilize utilize"). Nobody's ever reverted me for that. I think there is a proper use for the verb "utilize": it means "to render useful". But usually, it's just a substitute for "use"…

Interesting. If you look at Wiktionary or if you prefer, your favorite etymology dictionary, the word utilize is descended from Latin from the French word utiliser, via the Italian utilizzare which got it from the Latin utilis. All of those words mean to use.

I'd be the last person to say you're wrong. Matters of grammar and usage ultimately boil down to does it feel right and current usage. As is usual with these things, other people have different feelings about it. That's what dialect is I think.

Re: Wikipedia user edits over 90k uses of “comprised of”

#252

Post by pornel »

ludston wrote: post #215

I enjoy collecting little things like this to annoy the grammar gatekeepers. Why say "regardless" when "irregardless" means the same thing but also annoys prescriptivists? "Ironical" instead of "ironic" and "less" instead of "fewer". Now that I know, "comprised of" fits in this category, it's definitely going to be a part of the everyday lexicon.

This literally begs the question.

Re: Wikipedia user edits over 90k uses of “comprised of”

#253

Post by gwd »

pastacacioepepe wrote: post #242
fauxpause_ wrote: post #236

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This post is comprised good points.

> This post is comprised good points. This post comprises good points. This post consists of good points.

> This post comprises good points.

As a native speaker, I would say:

* Good points comprise this post.

* This post is comprised of good points.

I'm sure there's an interesting historical linguistics reason for the way things developed, but "comprised of" is well-established usage.

Re: Wikipedia user edits over 90k uses of “comprised of”

#254

Post by [deleted] »

denton-scratch wrote: post #241
hhjinks wrote: post #199

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't see it. The 50 states comprise the United States. The United States is comprised of the 50 states. You can change the word, and the exact same "issues" persist. The 50 states make up the whole of the United States. The whole of the United Sates is made up of the 50 states.

No - "The United States comprises 50 states".

[deleted]

Re: Wikipedia user edits over 90k uses of “comprised of”

#255

Post by bombcar »

kurthr wrote: post #154

I hope he never has to read a US patent where "comprised of" is almost a required usage not only in the spec, but in the claims! It's expected by the examiners and demanded by patent lawyers as a term of art as interpreted by an appellate court. The term "comprises" and/or "comprised of" has a specific usage in patents. Comprising means that at least all of the listed elements must exist, but other elements that are…

I dare say you could find some of those 90k changes are to patent wording on Wikipedia.

Re: Wikipedia user edits over 90k uses of “comprised of”

#256

Post by yellowapple »

hhjinks wrote: post #199
FabHK wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> That's true for many, many other words. Well, yes, but other words aren’t wrong and irritating to many readers. The point is that the usage in question has several disadvantages, but zero redeeming features. > "To comprise" and "to be comprised of" contain the same word, but not in the same sense. That’s not the point. “To shoot” and “to be shot” contain the same word, but mean opposite things, but that’s a well un…

I don't see it. The 50 states comprise the United States. The United States is comprised of the 50 states. You can change the word, and the exact same "issues" persist. The 50 states make up the whole of the United States. The whole of the United Sates is made up of the 50 states.

Except that, per the article, the "correct" rendering would be "The United States comprises the 50 states" or "The 50 states are comprised by the United States" - because the United States is composed of / contains / includes the 50 states. Therein lies the issue: the word "comprised" is being used opposite from its actual meaning.

There probably ain't much we can realistically do about that, though. Words get misused until they're redefined all the time ("literally" being the popular contemporary example). Such are the joys of English being descriptivist.

Re: Wikipedia user edits over 90k uses of “comprised of”

#257

Post by ddoolin »

mmcnl wrote: post #221
denton-scratch wrote: post #214

"Comprises" means "consists of". So "comprised of" means "consists of of". It's not just that some people dislike it; it's simply wrong. Whenever I come across the word "utilize" in WP, I change it to "use" (with the edit comment "Don't utilize utilize"). Nobody's ever reverted me for that. I think there is a proper use for the verb "utilize": it means "to render useful". But usually, it's just a substitute for "use"…

What is "WP"?

WordPress.

Wickedly Pernicious.

Re: Wikipedia user edits over 90k uses of “comprised of”

#258

Post by moritzwarhier »

mmcnl wrote: post #221
denton-scratch wrote: post #214

"Comprises" means "consists of". So "comprised of" means "consists of of". It's not just that some people dislike it; it's simply wrong. Whenever I come across the word "utilize" in WP, I change it to "use" (with the edit comment "Don't utilize utilize"). Nobody's ever reverted me for that. I think there is a proper use for the verb "utilize": it means "to render useful". But usually, it's just a substitute for "use"…

What is "WP"?

AAC.

Acronyms are confusing.

But some people also say AC -acronyms confuse.

I thought of a byzantine WordPress site with editing history or something as well, for a moment, despite the context.

Wait, WP for Wikipedia isn't even an acronym, just an abbreviation!

If you read this far, sorry for wasting your time.

I'm still learning :high_five:

Re: Wikipedia user edits over 90k uses of “comprised of”

#260

Post by e12e »

denton-scratch wrote: post #214

"Comprises" means "consists of". So "comprised of" means "consists of of". It's not just that some people dislike it; it's simply wrong. Whenever I come across the word "utilize" in WP, I change it to "use" (with the edit comment "Don't utilize utilize"). Nobody's ever reverted me for that. I think there is a proper use for the verb "utilize": it means "to render useful". But usually, it's just a substitute for "use"…

Truly? Webster's lists in part:

> 2: Compose, constitute

> //… a misconception as to what comprises a literary generation. — William Styron

> //… about 8 percent of our military forces are comprised of women. — Jimmy Carter

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