NFPA Paralegal Core Competency Exam (PCCE)Legal Writing and CommunicationHard
A paralegal is proofreading a final draft of a patent application, a document requiring extreme precision. The paralegal encounters a sentence that reads, 'The device comprises of a housing, a circuit board, and a power supply.' Which of the following grammatical corrections is necessary to ensure accuracy and adherence to proper usage?
- AChange 'comprises of' to 'comprises'.
- BChange 'comprises of' to 'is comprised with'.
- CChange 'comprises of' to 'is comprised of'.
- DChange 'comprises of' to 'consists of'.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Change 'comprises of' to 'comprises'.
The verb 'comprise' means 'to consist of' or 'to include.' Therefore, 'comprises of' is redundant and grammatically incorrect. The correct usage is simply 'comprises' or 'is comprised of' (passive voice). In active voice, 'comprises' stands alone.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. 'Is comprised with' is incorrect and unidiomatic.
- C. While 'is comprised of' is grammatically correct in the passive voice, the original sentence used 'comprises' in active voice, making 'comprises of' the specific error. The most direct correction to the active voice error is simply 'comprises'.
- D. 'Consists of' is also correct, but the question asks for a correction to the specific phrase 'comprises of'. Changing to 'consists of' changes the verb rather than correcting the misuse of 'comprises'. The most precise correction to 'comprises of' in active voice is 'comprises'.
Usage of 'Comprise'
The verb 'comprise' means 'to consist of' or 'to include.' It is a transitive verb and should not be followed by 'of' when used in the active voice.
- Correct: 'The whole comprises the parts.'
- Correct: 'The whole is comprised of the parts.'
- Incorrect: 'The whole comprises of the parts.'
Memory trick: Punctilious Proofreading Prevents Problems.