Apart or A Part? Learn Their Meanings and Their Correct Use

A part and apart are often confused, especially by non-native speakers of English. Apart is mostly used as an adverb, denoting a separation between two or more things. A part (two words) means “a fraction of a whole,” or in theatre, “an actor’s role.” Apart from is a frequently used preposition.

Although the two expressions are identical in spelling but for a space, they have two different origins. Apart came to English from the Latin words ad, meaning “to,” and pars, meaning “a side.” Part, on the other hand, is derived from partem, the Latin word meaning “a piece, division, or share.” Isn’t it amazing how a word that is all about separation came to be so similar to a phrase that has to do with being integral to a unified whole?

Here’s a tip: The difference between apart and a part is that apart implies a separation between things (they are away from one another), and a part denotes that a thing is a share of another, bigger thing (there’s togetherness going on).

When to Use “Apart”

Use apart adverbially to show how two things are separated physically, figuratively, or in time. Carefully avoid using a part when this is your intended meaning.

My parents had my sister and me two years a part.

My parents had my sister and me two years apart.

Michelle and her husband don’t like to be a part for more than an hour or two.

Michelle and her husband don’t like to be apart for more than an hour or two.

My sister and I used to live close to one another, but now we live miles a part.

My sister and I used to live close to one another, but now we live miles apart.

It can also be used to mean “to render in parts or pieces.”

The manager meant to bring his staff closer together with the “trust fall” exercise, but instead he tore them apart.

I sewed the hem too short on this dress, so I’m going to take it apart.

Apart from can be used as a preposition meaning “besides” or “except for.”

Apart from all the work I did keeping the rental house clean, it was a very enjoyable holiday.

Apart can also be used as an adjective in the sense of separate or isolated.

My taste in books and Samantha’s are worlds apart.

When to Use “A Part”

A part is two words: a is an article and part is a noun synonymous with piece. A part is frequently seen in the company of the preposition of.

Our neighbor Lucy has always felt like a part of our family.

May I have a part of your steak?

After a year or so, Mary began to feel like a part of her community.

Keep in mind that the article a might not be essential to your sentence. These three sentences, for example, are identical in meaning to the three above, and are equally correct.

Our neighbor Lucy has always felt like part of our family.

May I have part of your steak?

After a year or so, Mary began to feel like part of her community.

Of course, part can also refer to a piece of something in the sense of component.

I’d like to fix my bike, but I have to buy a part for it.

Last, a part can refer to an actor’s role in a play, musical, or film.

Did you audition for a part in the school play?

Tips to Remember “A Part” and “Apart”

Apart has to do with being or rendering separate.

A part is something that is a piece of something else that is considered whole or together.

Nowadays or Now a Days?

• Nowadays is the only correct spelling of this word.
• Spelling the word as three words—now a days—is incorrect.

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Nowadays means “at the present time.” It’s easy to use, but the spelling gives some people trouble.

How to Spell Nowadays

There’s only one way to spell nowadays—as one word. Even though this adverb evolved from the Middle English now adays, spelling it as more than one word today is a mistake. You shouldn’t write it as now a days, nowdays, nowaday, or any other spelling:

You can’t buy spirits if you’re a minor now a days.

We have a huge range of different clothing brands to choose from nowadays.

Nowdays, you can find a coffee shop on every corner.

Nowadays, people like to watch TV shows on their computers.

How to Use Nowadays in a Sentence

Nowadays should never be used as an adjective—you can’t say that your car is a nowadays car. When you start your sentence with nowadays, you should set it off with a comma, as it’s an introductory element.

You should also remember that nowadays isn’t usually used to describe something temporary that happens to be occurring at the present moment. It usually refers to something that has become common in the times we are referring to.

Examples

You should have even less shame about giving them to your loved ones this holiday season, because seriously, have you seen most pop culture swag nowadays?

Gizmodo

There are some very common sights at a Black Friday sale nowadays—giant TVs, blenders, coffee makers, hoovers and last-season’s gadgets.

AOL

Nowadays, it has changed, it is more demanding for a full-back.

HITC

How to Write Better Cover Letters

Imagine, for a minute, that you’re an employer. You need to fill a position and you receive hundreds of applications every day. You’ve deleted the ones from senders like cutie143@email.com, the ones with misspellings in the subject line or email body, and the ones that sound like generic templates.

Then you read a cover letter that shows knowledge of the position, skill fit, proper grammar and spelling, and enthusiasm. Finally, you’ve found a potential candidate. So what’s in that cover letter? Writing better cover letters requires time, research, a mindset switch, and deliberate word choice. Read on to write your way to a new job.

Research the company and the position

If you’ve found a company you’re serious about working for or a position that seems like the right fit, don’t apply immediately. Do more research. Read through the website and press releases. What do Glassdoor and LinkedIn have to say? Check out their Hoover’s profile. Find similar positions in other companies and compare descriptions.

If you still want to apply after researching, then you can write about how your skills match the position and how you would fit in with the company’s culture. If the position calls for leadership skills, briefly mention a situation in which you led a team to success. Give evidence. Write about which of the company’s programs you admire. Use specifics to demonstrate your investment in the application.

Get into an employer-first mindset

The employer will be thinking, “What’s in it for us?” Catch the employer’s attention by answering that question for them. Can you increase profits, retain talent, produce creative work, or boost productivity? How does your skill set fit with what they need? Sell yourself by explaining how you’ll benefit the company.

Enlist the power of verbals to add energy

Research shows that you need to come across as energetic and enthusiastic about the job to retain a reader’s interest. Use verbals, verb forms that act as nouns, adverbs, or adjectives, to give your sentences energy. Compare these two paragraphs:

Passage A

There are four main steps in the composition of a cover letter. First, you must collect your thoughts about the position and the company. You should gather evidence of your experience and the skills that will be described in the letter. The next step involves the development of those thoughts by the use of examples from your previous work experience. Next, you should organize these thoughts into three paragraphs: the reason you’re writing goes in the first paragraph; what qualifications pertain to the position and what benefits these qualities provide to the company goes in the second paragraph; and a sales close goes in the final paragraph. The last step is the determination of whether or not you have made any grammar or spelling errors.

Passage B

Composing a cover letter involves four main steps. Collecting your thoughts about the position and the company is the first step. You should gather evidence of your experience and the skills that you plan to describe in the letter. Developing these thoughts by using examples from your previous work experience is the next step. The third step involves organizing these thoughts into three paragraphs. Use the first paragraph to explain why you’re writing; use the second to describe what qualifications pertain to the position and what benefits these qualities provide to the company in the second paragraph; and follow up with a sales close in the final paragraph. The last step is to determine if you have made any grammar or spelling errors.

The verbals in passage B are marked with bold text. In a study comparing readers’ preference for passages similar to those above, over 75 percent of respondents chose passage B and described it as “more to the point,” “more organized,” and “clearer,” which supports the hypothesis that readers prefer more syntactically complex verbals over passages not as syntactically complex.

Edit, proofread, then do it again

You may be a perfect fit for the position, but grammar and spelling mistakes will prevent you from being invited for an interview. Take the time to review your email introduction, cover letter, and résumé for mistakes. Review it slowly, read it aloud, and use Grammarly to make sure it’s 100 percent error-free before sending.

Craft a cover letter that an employer wants to read by making it specific and engaging. That way, you can apply for fewer jobs and receive more invitations to interview.

Grammar Basics: What is the correct word order in English?

Word order in English is fixed for most speaking and writing.

In English, sentences start with a subject and are immediately followed by a verb. In questions, this order is switched.

She is a friend.

Is she a friend?

To learn more about grammar and to help us celebrate National Grammar Day this March, visit our new resource page.