Consist vs. Consist of

Attribute	Consist	Consist of
Definition	to be composed or made up of	to be composed of
Usage	used to describe a whole entity	used to describe the parts that make up the whole entity
Subject	the whole entity	the parts or elements
Verb	intransitive	transitive

Definition

Consist and consist of are two phrases that are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct differences in meaning. Consist is a verb that means to be made up or composed of something. For example, "The team consists of five players." Consist of, on the other hand, is a phrasal verb that means to be composed or made up of something. For example, "The team consists of five players." While both phrases involve composition, consist of is more specific in indicating what the subject is composed of.

Usage

Consist is typically used when describing the components or elements that make up a whole. For example, "The menu consists of appetizers, entrees, and desserts." Consist of, on the other hand, is used to specify the exact elements that make up the whole. For example, "The menu consists of appetizers, such as wings and nachos, entrees, such as burgers and salads, and desserts, such as cheesecake and ice cream." In this case, consist of provides a more detailed breakdown of the components.

Subject-Verb Agreement

When using consist, the verb agrees with the subject of the sentence. For example, "The team consists of five players." In this sentence, the singular subject "team" requires the singular verb "consists." Consist of, on the other hand, does not require subject-verb agreement because "of" is a preposition that separates the verb from the subject. For example, "The team consists of five players." In this sentence, the verb "consists" remains unchanged regardless of the subject "team."

Clarity

Consist of is often preferred for clarity and specificity in writing. When using consist, it may not always be clear what the subject is composed of without further context. For example, "The team consists of." In this sentence, it is unclear what the team consists of without additional information. Consist of, on the other hand, provides a clear and specific list of components. For example, "The team consists of five players, a coach, and a manager." This sentence leaves no room for ambiguity.

Formality

Consist of is generally considered more formal than consist. In academic or professional writing, consist of is often preferred for its precision and clarity. For example, "The study consists of three main sections." This sentence conveys a formal and structured tone. Consist, on the other hand, may be used more casually in everyday conversation. For example, "The party consists of food, drinks, and music." This sentence is more informal and conversational in nature.

Examples

• Consist: The book consists of ten chapters.
• Consist of: The book consists of ten chapters, each focusing on a different aspect of the topic.
• Consist: The committee consists of members from various departments.
• Consist of: The committee consists of members from the marketing, finance, and human resources departments.