Comprise is a difficult word to use, because it is close in meaning to, but should be treated differently from, such verbs as consist (of), compose, and make up. There are two rules to remember. First, a whole comprises (consists of or is composed of) its parts; the parts make up or constitute the whole, but do not comprise it: The collection comprises over 500 items; The meal comprised no less than fifteen courses. Second, comprise should not be followed by of, even when it is used in the passive