What's the difference between "comprise" and "compose"?

A little morei

If you are naming the container and listing what is inside, use comprise: "the album comprises twelve tracks." If you are naming the parts and pointing up to the whole, use compose: "twelve tracks compose the album." Getting the direction right keeps the sentence from tangling.

The full entryii

More quick answersiii

• → Is it "comprised of" or "composed of"? "Composed of." Strict usage treats "comprised of" as an error — the whole comprises the parts directly.
• → Can I say "comprised of"? In casual writing, yes — it is everywhere. In careful prose, use composed of or comprises instead.