Words / B2

komp-uh-ZISHUN/ˌkɒmpəˈzɪʃn/

A composition is a piece of writing or music, or the way parts are arranged: write a composition, the composition of the team, chemical composition. Essay is everyday for school writing; piece is looser for music. Compose is the verb. In older school English, composition meant a set essay; that use now sounds dated. In speech, essay / piece / mix is clearer. Do not use composition for any paragraph you happen to have written.

Meaning

A piece of writing or music, or the way parts are arranged.

Examples

• “The students wrote a composition about travel.”
• “The students wrote a composition about a local journey, not a copied summary.”
• “The composition of the committee changed after the election.”

Good to know

A piece of writing/music, or how parts are arranged. Verb: compose. Everyday: essay / piece / mix. School “composition” can sound dated.

Near in meaning

essay

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