tell apart: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1 IntermediateNeutral - Common in both informal and formal contexts when discussing differentiation.
Quick answer
What does “tell apart” mean?
To perceive or show the difference between two or more similar things or people.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To perceive or show the difference between two or more similar things or people.
To distinguish or differentiate, often requiring careful observation or specific knowledge to identify unique characteristics.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; usage patterns identical. Slightly more common in American academic/technical writing about differentiation.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties; carries no particular cultural baggage.
Frequency
Moderately common in both varieties, with near-identical frequency profiles.
Grammar
How to Use “tell apart” in a Sentence
Subject + tell + object + apartSubject + tell + object1 + and + object2 + apartVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tell apart” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The new security features make it much easier to tell the genuine banknotes apart from forgeries.
- Without their name badges, I couldn't tell the new interns apart.
American English
- The twins dressed differently so their teacher could tell them apart.
- Can you tell apart the different types of oak trees in this forest?
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used when discussing product differentiation, competitor analysis, or quality control checks.
Academic
Common in biology (telling species apart), art history (distinguishing artists' works), linguistics.
Everyday
Used about identical twins, similar-looking pets, counterfeit goods, or confusing menu items.
Technical
Used in forensics, quality assurance, diagnostics, and taxonomy.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tell apart”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tell apart”
- Using 'say apart' or 'speak apart'.
- Incorrect word order: 'I can't apart tell them' (correct: 'I can't tell them apart').
- Using with a single object: 'I can't tell apart the twin' (correct: 'I can't tell the twins apart').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it's a separable phrasal verb. The object (especially pronouns) goes between 'tell' and 'apart': 'Tell them apart' (correct), not 'Tell apart them' (incorrect).
Yes, though it's most common with two. You can say 'tell all the samples apart' or 'tell the triplets apart'.
They are very close synonyms. 'Tell apart' is slightly more informal and often implies a visual or immediate perceptual challenge. 'Distinguish' can be used in more abstract contexts (distinguish right from wrong).
Not usually. The structure is 'tell A and B apart' or 'tell A apart from B'. The latter is also correct but less common in everyday speech.
To perceive or show the difference between two or more similar things or people.
Tell apart is usually neutral - common in both informal and formal contexts when discussing differentiation. in register.
Tell apart: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtel əˈpɑːt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtɛl əˈpɑrt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Like two peas in a pod, impossible to tell apart.”
- “Couldn't tell them apart with a scorecard.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'TELL them APART' as if you're instructing someone to separate and identify each one verbally.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIFFERENTIATION IS SEPARATION (pulling things apart to see their individual qualities).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'tell apart' correctly?