apart to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "apart to" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not a standard expression and may confuse readers due to its lack of context or established usage. Example: "We need to set our differences apart to move forward."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Keep your knees far enough apart to be comfortable.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Handily, you can take it apart to store.

Independent

Turbines must be adequately spaced apart to avoid turbulence.

The New York Times

"They aren't that far apart to begin with".

The New York Times

He needed to be apart, to cool down.

The New York Times

They are standing too far apart to fit.

The Washington Post

Its foundation was eventually picked apart to build trenches.

The New York Times

He held his hands apart to suggest this remarkable growth.

The New Yorker

It is pulling things apart to understand how things work".

The Guardian

"The tables are spaced far enough apart to give privacy.

The New York Times

The Internet enables programs running in computers thousands of miles apart to communicate and exchange information.

TCP-IP Sockets in C Practical Guide for Programmers

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the purpose of separation, consider using "in order to" or "so as to" for improved clarity. For example, instead of "They spent time apart to finalize the paperwork", consider "They spent time "apart in order to" finalize the paperwork".

Common error

Avoid using "apart to" when intending to express a purpose. This construction often leads to awkward phrasing. Instead, opt for clearer alternatives like "in order to" or "so that" to convey intention effectively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "apart to" functions primarily as part of a prepositional phrase or an adverbial phrase, often attempting to express purpose or result. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's generally considered grammatically questionable and can often be replaced with clearer alternatives.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

35%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "apart to" is frequently found across diverse sources but is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI advises against using it in formal writing, suggesting clearer alternatives like "in order to" or "so as to" for expressing purpose. While prevalent, its informal nature makes it less suitable for academic or professional contexts. Analyzing the examples reveals that its communicative intention usually revolves around indicating the reason or result of a separation. Despite its common appearance, opting for more precise phrasing will enhance clarity and credibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

separate to

A simpler phrase that highlights the act of keeping items distinct from one another.

separated to

Emphasizes physical or conceptual division with a specific purpose or result.

divided to

Highlights the act of splitting something into distinct parts for a reason.

distanced to

Suggests creating emotional or physical distance with intention.

isolated to

Focuses on setting something or someone apart, often for a specific analysis or purpose.

aside for

Indicates reserving something for a particular purpose or use, differing slightly in focus from a direct separation.

set aside to

Emphasizes reserving time or resources for a specific reason or goal, shifting the meaning from simple division.

reserved for

Highlights that something is being kept separate for a particular use.

allocated for

Implies assigning resources to different areas or tasks, often in a systematic way.

dedicated to

Focuses on the commitment of resources or time to a specific purpose.

FAQs

How can I use the phrase "apart to" correctly?

While "apart to" isn't grammatically standard, you'll often find it used informally where "apart" describes a state of being separated, followed by an infinitive indicating purpose. For more formal writing, consider rephrasing with "in order to" or similar constructs.

What are some alternatives to "apart to" for expressing purpose?

Instead of "apart to", you can use phrases like "in order to", "so as to", or "for the purpose of" to indicate the reason for an action or separation.

Is "apart to" considered grammatically correct in academic writing?

No, "apart to" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in formal and academic writing. Ludwig AI suggests using more precise and widely accepted phrases to ensure clarity and professionalism in your writing.

Can "apart to" be replaced with a single-word preposition for better clarity?

In many cases, you can replace "apart to" with prepositions like "for" or "to", depending on the intended meaning. For example, instead of "time apart to cool down", you might say "time "apart to" cool down" if that's the message you want to convey (which is unlikely, given the grammatic uncorrectness of the structure).