"Constitutes" versus "Consists"

"Constitutes" and "consists" are two words that are often confused and misused. While they may appear similar in meaning, there is a slight difference between the two.

Meaning and Usage

The word "constitutes" means to form, make up, or compose. It is often used to indicate the elements or components of something. On the other hand, "consists" means to be made up or composed of. It is used to describe the essential parts or elements that make up a whole.

• "The board of directors constitutes five members."
• "The menu consists of various dishes."

In the first example, "constitutes" is used to indicate the formation or composition of the board of directors, emphasizing that there are five members. In the second example, "consists" is used to describe the essential parts or elements that the menu is made up of.

Common Mistake: "Constitutes" instead of "Consists"

One common mistake is to use the word "constitutes" instead of "consists" when describing the parts or elements of something. This often happens when people mistakenly believe that both words can be used interchangeably.

• Incorrect: "The team constitutes of ten players."
• Correct: "The team consists of ten players."

In this example, using "constitutes" instead of "consists" is incorrect because we are talking about the parts or elements (players) that make up the team.

Correcting the Mistake

To correct this mistake, it is important to remember that "constitutes" should not be used when referring to the parts or elements of something. Instead, use "consists".

Additionally, if you are unsure about the proper usage of "constitutes" versus "consists," you can use grammar checking tools like Linguix Grammar Checker to help identify and correct any errors in your writing.