laid apart

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "laid apart" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It means to separate or remove something from a group or collection. Example: The broken toys were laid apart from the rest, waiting to be fixed.

✓ Grammatically correct

Wikipedia

The Guardian - Lifestyle

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

And therefore our express pleasure and commandment is that, all delays and excuses laid apart, you do presently upon the duty of your allegiance obey and fulfill whatsoever the bearer hereof shall direct you to do in our name.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

They laid on, apart from a few national dishes, an interesting agenda, including opening up the gas and electricity markets, moves toward a single market in financial services, and attempts to create a Europe-wide patent system.

The Guardian

Learning the steering wheel is also complicated by the fact that each team designs and builds its own steering wheel, and the drivers do not have a great deal of input over how it is laid out — apart from the shape of the grip or the style of the rubber of the grip.

The New York Times - Sports

In the lead-up to Christmas - their busiest period when they dispatch more than 12,000 packages of fish - he gets to work at 4am to meet the postman and make sure they make the extra plane that has been laid on: apart from local customers the smokehouse is entirely mail-order, so a postal strike can spell disaster.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Fergus believes passionately, far more than he "believes" in eating innards, in shared dinners around a common table — some of the tables at St . John though just set apart, are laid out to give at least the illusion of a single, common table.

The New Yorker

On Saturday, those carefully laid plans fell apart spectacularly.

The New York Times

around eight cones laid 70 feet apart in a line.

The New York Times

Each panel is edged with French drains, as well as a grid of drainage lines laid 15 feet apart and four feet deep, out of the range of tent stakes.

The Washington Post

Along the same transects, 1-m2 quadrats were laid 25 m apart and herbaceous layer aboveground biomass determined by the use of the destructive method (t'Mannetje and Jones 2000).

Ecological Processes

For example, Dean says that when building a new railway, it might be stipulated that the track can only have a 5 degree gradient, gantries must be placed every 100 metres and tracks must be laid 1.4 metres apart.

TechCrunch

"When it was found it was completely taken apart, laid out flat and covered in gravel and one or two inches of concrete," said Mr Body, a car enthusiast who bought the parts when the owner put them up for sale.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "laid apart" when you want to emphasize a deliberate separation, especially in formal or historical contexts. Consider if a more common synonym like "set aside" or "separated" would be clearer for your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "laid apart" interchangeably with phrases that imply different types of separation. For instance, "set aside" suggests reservation, while "separated" simply indicates division. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the intended nuance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "laid apart" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of separating or setting something aside. As Ludwig indicates, it means to separate or remove something from a group or collection.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

25%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

10%

The Guardian - Lifestyle

9%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "laid apart" is a grammatically correct but uncommon verb phrase that signifies the action of separating or removing something. According to Ludwig, it describes the act of isolating an object from a group. Its formality leans towards the formal register, as it is predominantly found in written documents and less frequently used in everyday conversation. While it is mostly seen in news and media, science and wiki contexts, it is always best to consider a more common synonym to increase clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

separated out

Emphasizes the act of distinguishing and removing from a larger group, highlighting the selection process.

set aside

Focuses on reserving something for a specific purpose, shifting from general separation to intentional allocation.

removed from the group

Focuses on the act of taking something out of a collective, emphasizing the extraction process.

placed separately

Highlights the act of positioning something with a deliberate gap or space, focusing on spatial arrangement.

distinguished

Focuses on recognizing differences and setting something apart based on unique characteristics.

sorted out

Highlights the process of organizing and separating items based on specific criteria, shifting the focus to categorization.

segregated

Implies a more formal or systematic separation, often with social or political undertones.

sectioned off

Emphasizes dividing something into distinct parts or areas, focusing on structural separation.

arranged distinctly

Emphasizes the intentional organization with clear differentiation, adding an element of design or planning.

isolated

Suggests complete detachment or being alone, carrying a stronger sense of being apart.

FAQs

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

You can use "laid apart" to describe items that have been deliberately separated from a larger group. For example, "The broken toys were "laid apart" from the rest, waiting to be fixed."

What is a more common synonym for "laid apart"?

While "laid apart" is grammatically correct, it is not very common. Consider using phrases such as "set aside", "separated", or "isolated" depending on the context.

Is "laid apart" the same as "set apart"?

While both phrases involve separation, "set apart" often implies distinction or exceptional quality, whereas "laid apart" simply suggests physical separation or removal. They are not interchangeable in all contexts.

What are some contexts where "laid apart" might be appropriate?

"Laid apart" might be suitable in historical contexts or formal writing where a deliberate separation is emphasized. However, in modern conversational English, a simpler alternative is generally preferred.