Talk:Sexual slavery

Comprise vs comprise of

I noticed a recent edit by User:Rao Ravindra which changed the following sentence:

It may comprise of repeated sexual abuse or rape by the captor or forcing the victim to provide sexual services to others, or both. (*bold added for emphasis)

to this:

It may comprise repeated sexual abuse or rape by the captor or forcing the victim to provide sexual services to others, or both.

With this edit summary:

Comprise means "consist of". "Comprise of" is wrong. "Of" does not follow "comprise".

I would beg to differ. I think that edit summary makes a rather bold and authoritative pronouncement about something that I feel is solely a matter of opinion.
Many dictionaries and grammar books state that the use of "comprise of" is acceptable. For example:

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English states:

com‧prise

1 [linking verb] to consist of particular parts, groups etc: The house comprises two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a living room.

be comprised of somebody/something: The committee is comprised of well-known mountaineers.

2 [transitive] to form part of a larger group of people or things [= constitute, make up]: Women comprise a high proportion of part-time workers.

Dictionary.com/Random House states:

com·prise

verb (used with object), -prised, -pris·ing.

1. to include or contain: The Soviet Union comprised several socialist republics.

2. to consist of; be composed of: The advisory board comprises six members.

3. to form or constitute: Seminars and lectures comprised the day's activities.

4. be comprised of, to consist of; be composed of: The sales network is comprised of independent outlets and chain stores.

Usage Note: Comprise has had an interesting history of sense development. In addition to its original senses, dating from the 15th century, “to include” and “to consist of ” (The United States of America comprises 50 states), comprise has had since the late 18th century the meaning “to form or constitute” (Fifty states comprise the United States of America). Since the late 19th century it has also been used in passive constructions with a sense synonymous with that of one of its original meanings “to consist of, be composed of ”: The United States of America is comprised of 50 states.

Merriam Webster states:

Usage Note: Although it has been in use since the late 18th century, ["comprise(d) of"] is still attacked as wrong. Why it has been singled out is not clear, but until comparatively recent times it was found chiefly in scientific or technical writing rather than belles lettres. Our current evidence shows a slight shift in usage: ["comprise(d) of"] is somewhat more frequent in recent literary use than the earlier senses.

Just to explain: I know it is a tiny issue in the great scheme of things and I do not doubt that the editor was operating under good faith, (basing his/her edit on his/her belief that the "of" is not grammatically correct), and I know I could just change it back. But I figured I would explain here for a number of reasons: this could easily affect other articles (and for all I know it could be someone's pet "error" that s/he is trying to eradicate from Wikipedia); because I didn't want to get into an edit war over it; and because I thought it might be of interest to other editors, for example those who are not sure what the correct grammar is here. Plus, since I feel it is a matter of stylistic preference and that either way is acceptable, it would seem almost hypocritical of me to just change it back, unless (which is possible) it is an issue related to consistency regarding national varieties of English or was done with the rationale that whatever version was used first in an article is the one to revert to when in doubt.
And this issue is not without controversy. See this amusing rant by writer Mike Walsh, for example.
Sorry about the long explanation! :-) I didn't want to come across as rude, which I worried might happen if I were more brief. I just find this stuff interesting; hopefully I am not the only one :-) -MsBatfish (talk) 11:06, 21 December 2011 (UTC)