move apart from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "move apart from" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It can be used when discussing the act of distancing oneself from someone or something, but it is more common to use "move away from." Example: "As we grow older, we often find ourselves moving apart from childhood friends."

Science

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Lifestyle

Sport

Arts

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Nobody seems to move, apart from Totti, whose downwards header bounces into the net.

The Guardian - Sport

As you blow air into the balloon, however, the text gets bigger and lighter, as the ink particles attached to the rubber move apart from one another.

The New York Times - Science

Especially when we move apart from systems-programming and enter the realm of end-user applications, we find files for documentation, interface specifications, internationalization and localization modules and multimedia data.

Journal of Systems and Software

The raisins move apart from each other, but relative to the dough they don't move at all - the same particles of dough that start off near a particular raisin will always be next to that raisin.

Cornell University

In other words, all those things that tie us together with family can go through immense change in adolescence as we form our own identities and we can move apart from those with whom we grew up.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

There are eruptions, of various magnitudes, roughly every three years on average as the European and North American tectonic plates move apart from each other at two centimetres a year, stretching the crust.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

"She wanted to put her arm in his, and I think he moved apart from her".

The New Yorker

One image is often reproduced in triplicate; elsewhere, one pair moves apart from two identical pairs.

The New York Times - Arts

Before the Big Bang, the universe was relatively cold and empty – a bit like your brain, I'm guessing – and those particles that did exist were moving apart from each other at a staggering rate.

The Guardian - Books

The story follows Violet as she weathers the shocks and joys of her teenage years, gradually moving apart from her best friend Jackie, and dealing with the grief that comes with her shocking murder, as well as experiencing the fires of first love with Beau, a Rocker who sees beneath her lack of self confidence to her true personality.

The Guardian

As hole concentration decreases from overdoped to underdoped Bi2212, the experimental data point moves apart from the weak coupling point toward the strong coupling side, and a crossover occurs at 8.5, which is about twice the weak coupling constant.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing abstract concepts such as relationships or ideas, "move apart from" can effectively convey a sense of growing distance or divergence. For instance: "Over time, their political views moved apart from each other."

Common error

Avoid relying heavily on "move apart from" in formal contexts; more precise alternatives like "diverge", "separate", or "distance" often lend greater clarity and sophistication to your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "move apart from" functions primarily as a verb phrase, indicating a process of separation or divergence. The examples provided by Ludwig illustrate its use in various contexts, from tectonic plates to personal relationships.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

40%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "move apart from" is a versatile expression used to describe the gradual separation or divergence of entities, ideas, or individuals. While Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically acceptable, it's essential to be mindful of the context and consider more precise alternatives like "diverge from" or "separate from" in formal writing. The phrase is commonly found in scientific and news media contexts, reflecting its utility in describing objective processes and relational dynamics. By understanding its nuances, writers can effectively use "move apart from" to convey a sense of growing distance or distinction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

separate oneself from

Focuses on intentional separation or distancing, emphasizing the individual's action.

distance oneself from

Highlights the act of creating emotional or physical distance.

drift away from

Implies a gradual and often unintentional separation.

diverge from

Suggests a branching out or deviation in direction or opinion.

break away from

Conveys a more forceful or abrupt separation.

split off from

Indicates a physical separation or division.

detach oneself from

Emphasizes a removal of emotional or physical connection.

withdraw from

Implies a retreat or removal of involvement.

alienate oneself from

Highlights the creation of estrangement or hostility.

disassociate oneself from

Focuses on formally or publicly separating oneself from something.

FAQs

What does "move apart from" mean?

The phrase "move apart from" generally means to gradually separate or distance oneself from someone or something, either physically or emotionally.

How can I use "move apart from" in a sentence?

You can use "move apart from" to describe relationships that are drifting, like: "As we got older, we began to "drift away from" each other, and our interests "diverged from" those we had in common as children".

What are some alternatives to "move apart from"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "separate oneself from", "distance oneself from", or ""drift away from"" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "move apart from" the same as "move away from"?

While similar, "move apart from" often implies a more gradual or relational distancing, whereas "move away from" can indicate a more direct or physical change of location or focus.