Apart vs A Part | Difference between Apart and A part

Although “Apart” and “A part” words are used very commonly, there is still a lot of confusion around the words ‘Apart’ and ‘A part’. Both these words are quite similar to each other in spelling, but both have different meanings and usage. By the end of this tutorial, you will have a clear understanding of the differences between these words. 

 Difference between Apart and A part

1.”Apart”:
The term “apart” is an adverb that means “separate” or “away from each other”. It indicates a sense of isolation or distance. Consider the following examples:

• “They live apart from each other”.
• “She pulled the puzzle pieces apart”.
  As shown, “apart” is used to describe the physical or figurative separation between objects, individuals, or ideas. It emphasizes a state of being separate or distinct.

2.“A Part”:
On the other hand, “a part” is a term that comprises the article “a” and the noun “part”. It indicates a portion or component of something larger. Here are some examples:

• “He played a part in the success of the project”.
• “Each team member has a part to play in the production”.
  In these instances, “a part” refers to a specific role, contribution, or segment within a whole. It highlights the involvement or inclusion of something or someone in a particular context.

Difference Between Apart and A Part 

For some words which are confused and used interchangeably, the root cause is the evolution of the original word over time across various countries. However, there are some words that have different meanings and spellings but still sound the same. Such words are called homophones.

Without a doubt, the words Apart and A Part are homophones since they sound the same. But this clearly does not mean that they are the same words. To understand how they are different from each other, let us first look at them individually. 

	“Apart”	“A Part”
Part of	Adverb	Phrase
Meaning	Separate or away from each other	A portion or component of something larger
Example	“They live apart from each other.”	“He played a part in the success of the project.”
Usage	Describes separation or isolation	Refers to a specific role, contribution, or segment within a larger context

Apart

The word Apart is an adverb, and it means, separation or differentiation of something/someone from others. Moreover, this word can also be used as an adjective however, the meaning still remains the same. The only difference is that as an adverb, it modifies verbs, adjectives and other adverbs. But as an adjective, it modifies nouns. 

Mostly, the word Apart is followed by the preposition ‘from’. 

Examples of Apart as an Adverb

Here are some sentences that use the word Apart as an adverb-

• The students were made to sit apart because they were talking a lot. 
• I prefer keeping my personal and professional lives apart. 
• I can’t tell the handwriting apart, they both write in the same way. 

Examples of Apart as an Adjective 

Here are some sentences that use the word Apart as an adverb-

• Keep you feet apart or you will hurt your back. 
• North Pole is world apart. 
• Drag the two dogs apart before they attack each other. 

When the word apart is followed with the preposition ‘from’, it forms a phrase that means excluding or leaving out and is usually placed first in the sentence. Here is an example-

• Apart from the names of the poets, I have learned everything. 

The only exception to this is that when this phrase is placed after a verb, it means literal division. Here is an example-

• The page was torn apart from the notebook. 

A Part 

Unlike Apart, ‘A Part’ is not a word but a phrase with an indefinite article and a singular noun. The phrase means, a part or a section of the whole. Mostly, this phrase is followed by the preposition ‘of’. 

Examples of A Part

Here are some sentences that use the phrase A Part-

• Sara had to compile her project file but she couldn’t find a part of the assignment. 
• I am happy to be a part of the GeeksForGeeks team. 
• Alia has got a part in the latest play, Nemesis. 

Note that the use of the word ‘a’ with ‘part’ is not always required and can be eliminated. As an example, 

• I am happy to be a part of the GeeksForGeeks team. 

can simply be written as, 

• I am happy to be part of the GeeksForGeeks team. 

However, the same is not true for the first sentence. 

When in doubt while using the phrase ‘A Part’, replace the word ‘part’ with ‘piece’. If this replacement does not change the meaning of the sentence, then ‘a part’ is the right phrase to use. 

Usage of Apart and A part

Use the word apart when you have to show the separation of time or place. While on the other hand, use the phrase a part when you have to talk about something that is a portion of something whole. Here are some examples-

Using ‘a part’ in these sentences would be wrong-

• Simran and Parul can’t stay apart for more than a few hours. 
• My friend lives miles apart from me. 

Using ‘apart’ in these sentences would be wrong-

• Please give me a part of your berries. 
• We all feel a part of the new club. 

Additional Points to Note:

1. Placement in a Sentence:

• “Apart” is generally used before or after a verb, and it can modify the verb or the entire sentence.
• “A part” functions as a noun phrase and can be the subject or object of a sentence.

2. Indicating Time:

• “Apart” can also be used to express the duration of time between events or actions. For example, “They haven’t seen each other for months; they have been living apart.”
• “A part” does not have a time-related meaning.

3. Pronunciation:

• “Apart” is pronounced with the stress on the second syllable (/əˈpɑːrt/).
• “A part” is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable of “part” (/ə ˈpɑːrt/).

Conclusion

In conclusion, “apart” and “a part” may have similar spellings, but they differ significantly in meaning and use. While” apart” denotes separation or isolation,” a part” refers to a specific role or element within a larger total. Being apprehensive of these distinctions will help you use these terms accurately and effectively in your writing and conversations.