Apart vs A Part
Together or separate? One space changes the meaning.
Created by Denis M., British English teacher.
Your goal: Choose apart or a part by meaning, then use a part of and take part in naturally.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
1. Start with the meaning
APART: separate
We live apart.
We live in separate places. Apart can describe distance between people or things.
A PART: one piece or member
You are a part of the team.
You belong to the team. A part can also be one piece of something larger.
A quick check: if you mean separate, choose apart. If you mean one piece, section or member, choose a part.
Compare: We are apart means we are separated. We are a part of the group means we are included.
Try it, then check
“I want to be ___ of this project.”
A part. The speaker wants to be included.
Listen: separate or included?
Listen once without reading. Which examples mean separate? Which mean included in something?
Amanda · American English. Apart and a part often sound alike. The meaning and surrounding words help you choose the spelling.
Model transcript and listening guidance
Separate, but still connected: We live apart, but we speak every evening. You are still a part of my life. I want to be a part of the new group.
Join in and organise: Would you like to take part in our game? Yes, I would. Please keep the empty boxes apart. One box contains a part of the model.
Listening guidance: Living apart and keeping boxes apart describe separation. Being a part of a group describes inclusion. Take part in means participate.
2. Use the words around the phrase
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| be/live apart | be in separate places | The friends live apart. |
| keep things apart | keep things separate | Keep the clean and dirty cups apart. |
| a part of + something | one section or member | This room is a part of the museum. |
| take part in + activity | participate | I want to take part in the game. |
In take part in, do not add a when you mean participate: We took part in the discussion.
You can often say part of without a: Reading is part of my routine. Both part of the team and a part of the team are natural. This does not make apart of the team correct for inclusion.
Choose the meaning
“The blue piece is a part of the model.” Does the piece belong to the model or describe a distance?
It belongs to the model. Part is a noun here.
3. Describe distance, time and pieces
Space and time
The chairs are two metres apart.
The meetings are an hour apart.
The distance or time comes before apart.
One piece or several pieces
I found a part of the old toy.
I took the toy apart to clean it.
A part names one piece. Take something apart means separate it into pieces.
Take part in and take something apart have different meanings. I took part in the activity means I participated. I took the model apart means I separated its pieces.
A useful extra: apart from
Apart from can mean except for: “All the shops are open apart from the bakery.” Here, the bakery is the exception.
It can also introduce something additional in other contexts. Learn it as its own phrase. Do not use it as a spelling test for a part of.
4. Read the whole sentence
The two forms often sound the same. The space is a writing choice, so hearing the phrase alone may not tell you which spelling you need.
| Ask yourself | Choose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Does it mean separate? | apart | Put the boxes apart. |
| Does it name a piece or show inclusion? | a part (of) | That is a part of the machine. |
| Does it mean participate? | take part in | We take part in the class discussion. |
After choosing, read the sentence aloud. Check the complete pattern, including of or in where it is needed.
A short message
“Although we live apart, I still feel part of the group. Next week I will take part in the online meeting.”
The first phrase describes separation, the second inclusion, and the third participation.
Repair and explain
Try each repair aloud or in writing before opening the answer.
Repair the inclusion phrase: “I am happy to be apart of this group.”
Check the repair
I am happy to be a part of this group.
A part of means included. Part of this group is also natural.
Repair the distance phrase: “Put the chairs one metre a part.”
Check the repair
Put the chairs one metre apart.
Apart describes separation. One metre tells us the distance.
Repair the participation phrase: “We took a part on the game.”
Check the repair
We took part in the game.
The participation expression is take part in. Do not add a in this expression.
Mastery quiz
Choose one answer for each question. Check your answers, read the explanations, then retry any you missed.
Full answer key with explanations
- apart. Apart describes separation.
- a part. A part of the team means included in it.
- apart. Apart follows the distance between the desks.
- take part in. Take part in means participate in.
- Exercise is part of my routine. Part of can be used without a here.
- I separated the clock into pieces. Take something apart means separate its pieces.
- one piece of the model. A part names a piece or section of something.
- No. Use context and the surrounding words to choose the spelling.
- The kitchen. Apart from means except for in this context.
- apart; a part. Apart describes separation; a part of describes inclusion.
Put it into practice
Write or record a short invitation to a group activity. Include one sentence about being part of the group, one using take part in, and one instruction with apart.
Self-check: Underline of and in where needed. Check that apart means separate. Read the invitation aloud once.
Together: Your tutor asks one follow-up question. Answer it, then improve one of your sentences.
Compare with a model
You are an important part of our group. Please take part in our picture game on Friday. Keep the red and blue cards apart. We will explain the rules together.