Why "be apart of" keeps you aside: understanding this common grammatical error

Reviewed and edited by

Anwar Kareem 01/10/2024, 05:58

English.me team member

What kind of error is it?

Be apart of or be a part of. What's correct?

It's a grammatical error stemming from a misinterpretation of the phrase in spoken language, where the words "a part" and "apart" may sound similar.

Why do people make this mistake?

People often confuse "apart" with "a part" because they sound nearly identical when spoken but have different meanings. "Apart" means separated by a distance, whereas "a part" means to belong to or be included in something.

What is correct?

The correct expression is "be a part of," which means to be included in or belong to a group or activity.

Examples of correct usage

She wants to be a part of the team.
He was thrilled to be a part of the project.
Being a part of this community is very rewarding.