One word or two
Apart vs. A part
Apart is an adverb that means separated by distance or time, or into pieces. A part, as two words, means one piece of something or a role in it. The twins live apart, but both are a part of the team.
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| apart | adverb | separated by space or time, or no longer together |
| adverb | into separate pieces or parts | |
| a part | phrase | one piece or section of a whole, or a role or membership in something |
Apart
adverb: separated by space or time, or no longer together
- The two towns are about ten miles apart.
- Ana and her brother were born three years apart.
adverb: into separate pieces or parts
- Leo took the old radio apart to see how it worked.
- The paper bag fell apart in the rain.
A part
phrase: one piece or section of a whole, or a role or membership in something
- Mushrooms are a part of almost every dish she cooks.
- Being a part of the choir helped Grace make friends.
How to remember the difference
Apart pulls things away from each other. A part joins in: if you can say a piece of or a member of, write two words.
Good to know
The two can mean nearly opposite things: I want to be a part of this means joining, while I want to be apart from this means staying away. That is why the space matters so much in this pair.
Spot the mistake
Music has always been
aparta part of my life.Correct: Music has always been a part of my life.
The old bookshelf fell
a partapart when we moved it.Correct: The old bookshelf fell apart when we moved it.
Check yourself
Pick the word that fits each sentence.
1. Being of a volunteer group is a great way to meet people.
Answer: a part. The meaning is a member or piece of the group, so it is two words.
2. Plant the tomato seedlings about two feet .
Answer: apart. The meaning is separated by distance, so it is the one word apart.