Apart vs. A Part

"Apart" means separated or distant, while "a part" refers to being a portion or component of something. Although apart and a part share the same letters only to be differentiated with one space, they have different uses.

Apart

The most common use of apart is when it is used to show that there is a separation and distance between two nouns.

We should stand far apart because of the flu going around.

In this example, the subjects of the sentence are standing a far distance away from each other because of a prominent influenza.

Apart does not only signify physical distance. It can also be applied to time.

My mom and dad are four years apart.

Other uses of Apart

Apart can be used to mean “as well as” or “in addition to.”

Apart from fixing the bugs, Jim had to coach the new developers this week.

Apart can also be used to mean “except.”

Everyone went to the company dinner, apart from Tina.

Apart can be used to mean “in pieces” as well.

The vase fell apart because it was so frail.

Apart can be used to distinguish two nouns.

Could you tell him apart from his twin?

More example sentences

She decided to live apart from her family for a year to pursue her studies.
The two mountains are kilometers apart, offering breathtaking views.
Despite their differences, they remain close friends even when miles apart.
The art gallery displayed each painting apart from the others to emphasize their uniqueness.
Being apart from loved ones during the holidays can be challenging.

A part

In contrast, the main use of a part is to convey a piece of a whole.

I took a part of the machinery and polished it.

Here, the subject of the sentence took a component of a machine to polish it.

A part can also be used for people being a member of a group.

Aaron is a part of the student council.

In this sentence, we see that Aaron is a member of the student council at school.

Other uses of a part

A part can be used to mean “role” or “duty.”

Did you play a part in creating the new financial plan for the company?

It can also mean a piece of a greater whole.

Failure is a part of growing up.

A part can also be used to mean a “role” or “character” in acting.

Taylor got a part in the play Bye Bye Birdie.

More example sentences

John plays a part in every school play because he loves acting.
Each employee plays a part in the company's success.
The heart plays a crucial part in the circulatory system.
Being a part of the committee means attending weekly meetings.
Your feedback is a valuable part of our improvement process.

Practice questions

Test your own knowledge of the main uses of apart and a part with these questions.

Are you apart/a part of the track team?
I gave apart/a part of my cookie to my little sister.
Manuel kept the strong magnets apart/a part from each other so they would not stick together.
The red car was parked only an inch apart/a part from my own.
Sadness is apart/a part of life, as is happiness.
My habits became apart/a part of me, dominating me subconsciously.
The proctor had us sit six feet apart/a part from each other so we could not cheat on the test.
The sisters have been apart/a part for so long that they barely recognize each other.
Apart/A part of me wanted to stay in the village instead of moving to the city.
My brother and I are only one year apart/a part.

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