Grammar Lessons with Kate: Apart and a part

Apart and a part

by Kate Asbury Larkin

Totally opposite meanings.

If you are included in something, a piece of a whole, you are A PART – TWO words. “I was so happy to be a part of this team.”

Apart means separated, in pieces, to NOT be a part. “It makes me sad that we’re apart.”

The misuse of apart is out of control and everybody who uses it as one word when it should be two (or vice versa) is saying the exact opposite of what they mean. #petpeeves #grammarsnob