hold apart

USAGE SUMMARY

"hold apart" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe keeping two or more things separate from one another. For example, "The two competing teams were asked to hold apart during the awards ceremony."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Potential applications include tiny batteries that use the nails to hold apart the chemicals until precisely when electricity is needed.

The New York Times - Science

In that position, Mr. Ranieri will represent the independent directors on the board, speaking on their behalf to outsiders and conducting any separate meetings they may hold apart from the full board, which is led by Mr. Wang as chairman.

The New York Times

The material is wherever possible concrete: concrete floors, walls, ceilings, stairs, paving and a strong rhythm of concrete beams that hold apart the party walls with the two neighbouring properties.

The Guardian - Arts

Nanotubes are already sprinkled in more than half of lithium ion batteries: their ability to carry electricity hastens recharging, and they act like tiny springs to hold apart the sheets of graphite in the battery, extending its lifetime.

The New York Times - Science

Those norms hold apart from a positive action by a legislature or legislator.

SEP

(To be fair, Ariadne is an investor in SpinVox – though Meyer declined to tell us this afternoon what stake they currently hold, apart from saying it was "small" – so it's hardly surprising she stuck up for the company).

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Michael Cunningham's The Hours tells three stories of three days, held apart by time.

The Guardian - Books

First, they imagined two tilted slopes that could be laid on top of each other or held apart.

The New York Times - Science

"These novels are all about the strange ways in which people are brought together and the painful ways in which they are held apart".

BBC

These assimilations illustrate a universal tendency of vowel interaction and are of relatively recent origin; they are best held apart from the question of vowel harmony.

Encyclopedia Britannica

With variable annuities, your money is invested in underlying subaccounts — similar to stock mutual funds — that are held apart from the insurance company's assets.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hold apart" when you want to emphasize the active effort or mechanism involved in maintaining separation between objects or ideas.

Common error

Avoid using "hold apart" when a simpler verb like "separate" or "divide" would suffice. "Hold apart" implies a more deliberate or forceful action to maintain separation.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "hold apart" functions primarily to describe the act of maintaining separation between two or more entities. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It emphasizes the exertion of force or a specific mechanism to keep things separate as shown in some examples from Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

44%

Encyclopedias

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hold apart" is a grammatically sound phrasal verb used to describe the act of maintaining separation between two or more things, typically through a deliberate action or mechanism. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. Its usage leans towards formal and scientific contexts, as highlighted by its prevalence in scientific publications and news media. When considering alternatives, "keep separate" and "maintain distance" are good substitutes, although "hold apart" emphasizes the active effort involved. Avoid using it where simpler terms suffice, and consider the context to ensure the nuance of active separation is appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keep separate

Emphasizes maintaining separateness, often in a more general sense.

keep divided

Highlights the state of being divided and the effort to maintain it.

maintain distance

Focuses on spatial separation or preventing close interaction.

prevent contact

Directly addresses the act of stopping things from touching or interacting.

keep at bay

Implies preventing something undesirable from approaching or affecting something else.

segregate

Implies a deliberate act of separating groups or things based on specific criteria.

isolate

Emphasizes setting something apart from others, often for protection or study.

keep asunder

Suggests a forceful separation, often with a sense of preventing union.

disconnect

Focuses on severing a connection or relationship.

detach

Highlights the act of unfastening or separating something from a larger unit.

FAQs

How can I use "hold apart" in a sentence?

"Hold apart" is often used to describe a physical separation that requires effort or a specific mechanism. For example, "The magnets hold apart the two surfaces" or "The norms hold apart from a positive action by a legislature or legislator".

What's a synonym for "hold apart"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "keep separate", "maintain distance", or "keep at bay".

Is "hold apart" the same as "keep apart"?

While similar, "hold apart" often implies a continuous or active effort to maintain separation, whereas "keep apart" can be more general. For instance, you might "hold apart" components of a machine, but simply "keep apart" conflicting parties.

When is it appropriate to use "hold apart" in scientific writing?

"Hold apart" is appropriate in scientific writing when describing mechanisms that actively maintain separation, such as "The protein domains hold apart the active sites of the enzyme".