word usage - Does a whole "compose" its parts?


I just wrote a sentence like this and I'm wondering I've used the word compose correctly.



In order to find the length of the train, you'll need to measure the individual cars it composes.



Is this correct, or would it be better phrased as "... of which it's composed"? Should I use another word, like comprise?



Answer



No. Comprises is right.


Compose indicates joining things together. "The cars compose the train; the train is composed of cars."


Comprise indicates splitting a composite (see what I did there?). "The train comprises its cars."


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