Among and amongst are both correct English words. They are prepositions with the same basic meaning, but they are not equally common. Among is the usual choice in modern English, while amongst is less common and can sound more formal, literary, or traditional.
The difference is mainly one of style, frequency, and regional preference, not grammar. You can use either word when referring to someone or something within a group.
For most everyday, academic, and professional writing, among is the safest choice. However, amongst is still standard English, particularly in British usage.
Amongst or Among: Which Is Correct?
Both among and amongst are grammatically correct.
Among is more common in modern English and works naturally in both American and British English. Amongst has the same basic meaning, but it appears less often and may give a sentence a more traditional or literary tone.
| Word | Meaning | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Among | Within or surrounded by a group | Common, neutral English |
| Amongst | Within or surrounded by a group | Less common, often more traditional |
For example:
- The teacher walked among the students.
- The teacher walked amongst the students.
Both sentences are correct. The first sounds more natural to most modern readers.
What Does Among Mean?
Among is a preposition used when someone or something is within a group or surrounded by several people or things.
It can express the idea of being:
- within a group
- surrounded by others
- included in a group
- in the company of others
- shared or distributed within a group
For example:
She found an old friend among the guests.
Here, the friend is one person within a larger group.
Other examples include:
- There was a lot of excitement among the students.
- The money was divided among the team members.
- The custom is common among local families.
- The researchers found a similar pattern among the participants.
The word is especially common in everyday and professional English.
What Does Amongst Mean?
Amongst has essentially the same meaning as among. It describes someone or something as being within, surrounded by, or part of a group.
For example:
She walked amongst the trees.
This means that she walked within an area containing trees.
You may also see:
- The news spread quickly amongst the villagers.
- He felt comfortable amongst his colleagues.
- A small house stood amongst the hills.
- The discussion continued amongst the members.
There is no grammatical error in these sentences. However, many readers would find the versions with among slightly more natural in modern writing.
Among vs Amongst: What’s the Difference?
The main difference between among and amongst is their frequency and style.
Meaning and Grammar
Both words function as prepositions and normally introduce a noun or pronoun that represents a group.
Compare:
The decision was discussed among the employees.
The decision was discussed amongst the employees.
The meaning is almost identical. The choice does not normally change the basic meaning of the sentence.
Which One Is More Common?
Among is much more common in contemporary English.
It is the form you are most likely to encounter in:
- everyday conversation
- news writing
- business communication
- academic writing
- websites
- general nonfiction
Amongst is less frequent. It remains correct, but it can sound more formal, literary, or traditional depending on the context.
British and American English
Both forms occur in British English. Amongst has a stronger association with British usage than American usage.
American English generally favors among, especially in everyday and professional communication.
This does not mean that amongst is wrong in American English. It simply tends to be less common.
Among or Amongst: Which Should You Use?
If you are unsure, choose among.
It is the more neutral option and fits almost any type of modern English writing.
For Everyday English
Use among for ordinary conversation and general writing.
She was sitting among her friends.
For Professional Writing
Among is usually the clearest choice in emails, reports, and workplace documents.
The survey identified several concerns among employees.
For Academic Writing
Among is also a natural choice in research papers and academic reports.
The study found differences among the participants.
There is nothing grammatically wrong with amongst in academic writing, but among usually sounds more neutral.
For Literary Writing
Amongst can work well when a writer wants a more traditional or literary tone.
Mist drifted amongst the trees.
The choice here is stylistic rather than grammatical.
Among and Amongst in Sentences
Seeing both words in real situations makes the difference easier to understand.
Using Among in a Sentence
- The teacher divided the books among the students.
- There was strong support among local residents.
- She noticed a familiar face among the crowd.
- The researchers compared the results among different age groups.
- Trust is important among members of a successful team.
Using Amongst in a Sentence
- The cottage was hidden amongst the trees.
- He felt at ease amongst his old friends.
- The message circulated amongst the villagers.
- A small stream flowed amongst the rocks.
- The tradition remained popular amongst local communities.
In each case, among could generally replace amongst without changing the basic meaning.
Among or Amongst Themselves
Both among themselves and amongst themselves are grammatically correct.
For example:
The students discussed the problem among themselves.
You can also write:
The students discussed the problem amongst themselves.
The first version is more common and has a neutral modern tone. The second is perfectly acceptable but may sound more traditional.
The same pattern appears with other expressions:
- They kept the matter among themselves.
- The team members shared their ideas among themselves.
- The families divided the property among themselves.
For most readers, among themselves is the more natural choice.
Among vs Between: What’s the Difference?
Among and between can both describe relationships between people or things. Their use depends on the context.
Among is usually used for a group.
There was disagreement among the employees.
Between often focuses on separate people or things.
The agreement between the two companies was finalized yesterday.
The choice is not simply about the number of people or things involved.
When to Use Between
Use between when you are talking about separate or clearly identified people or things.
The discussion between the three departments lasted an hour.
When to Use Among
Use among when you are talking about people or things as part of a group.
The teacher shared the results among the students.
So, between often highlights separate relationships, while among usually focuses on a group.
There was disagreement among the employees.
Between often presents separate or clearly identified people or things in relation to one another.
The agreement between the two companies was signed yesterday.
A common grammar rule says that between is for two things and among is for three or more. That rule is too simple.
When to Use Between
Use between when the people or things are viewed as separate or individually identified.
For example:
The negotiations between the three countries lasted several months.
There are three countries, but each country is treated as a distinct party to the negotiations.
When to Use Among
Use among when the focus is on a group or collective setting.
The teacher distributed the worksheets among the students.
The students are viewed collectively as the group receiving the worksheets.
The choice therefore depends more on the relationship and context than simply on the number of people or things involved.
Among vs Amid: Are They the Same?
Among and amid have similar meanings in some sentences. However, they are not always interchangeable.
Among usually refers to being within a group.
She was standing among her friends.
Amid often means being surrounded by something or being in the middle of a situation.
The company made the announcement amid growing concerns.
The two words can overlap, but they often have different uses. Among is more closely linked to people or things in a group, while amid often describes surrounding conditions or circumstances.
She was standing among her friends.
Amid often means in the middle of or surrounded by something, especially a situation, condition, or environment:
The company announced the changes amid growing concerns.
You can think of among as strongly connected with groups, while amid often emphasizes the surrounding circumstances.
Among and Amongst Synonyms
Because among and amongst have essentially the same meaning, they can function as synonyms in many sentences.
Depending on the context, related expressions include:
- amid
- within a group
- surrounded by
- in the company of
- in the midst of
- among members of
- within
However, these alternatives are not perfect replacements in every sentence.
For example, among the students sounds natural when referring to a group of students. Replacing it with in the midst of the students would change the tone and emphasis.
How to Pronounce Among and Amongst
The two words are easy to distinguish by their final sounds.
Among Pronunciation
Among is pronounced approximately:
uh-MUNG
Its IPA pronunciation is /əˈmʌŋ/.
Amongst Pronunciation
Amongst is pronounced approximately:
uh-MUNGST
Its IPA pronunciation is /əˈmʌŋst/.
The main difference is the /st/ sound at the end of amongst.
Common Mistakes With Among and Amongst
Thinking Amongst Is Incorrect
It is not incorrect. Amongst is a standard English preposition.
Assuming Amongst Is Always Old-Fashioned
It can have a traditional or literary feel, but that does not make it outdated. It is still used in modern English, especially in British contexts.
Treating Among as American English Only
Among is used in both American and British English. It is simply more common and neutral.
Using the Two-or-Three Rule for Between and Among
The number of people or things is not the only factor. Between can be used with more than two clearly identified entities.
Switching Between Forms Without a Reason
Both words are correct, but consistent style usually makes writing smoother. If you prefer among, there is rarely a reason to change to amongst.
Among or Amongst in Different Contexts
The best choice can become clearer when you look at everyday situations.
At Work
There was disagreement among the employees.
Among sounds natural in a workplace report.
At School
The teacher noticed excitement among the students.
This is the usual neutral form.
With Friends
She felt comfortable among her friends.
The sentence sounds natural in everyday English.
In Academic Writing
The researchers observed similar results among the participants.
Again, among is the straightforward choice.
In Literary Writing
A narrow path disappeared amongst the trees.
Here, amongst gives the sentence a slightly more traditional literary tone.
FAQs
1. Is among correct English?
Yes. Among is a standard English preposition and is widely used in both American and British English.
2. Is amongst correct English?
Yes. Amongst is also correct. It has the same basic meaning as among but is less common.
3. What is the difference between among and amongst?
There is usually no significant difference in meaning. Among is more common and neutral, while amongst can sound more traditional, formal, literary, or British.
4. Is amongst more formal than among?
It can sound more formal or literary in some contexts, but it is better to view this as a matter of style and frequency rather than a strict grammar rule.
5. Is amongst British English?
Amongst is strongly associated with British English, but it is not exclusive to Britain. Both forms are standard English.
6. Which is more common, among or amongst?
Among is considerably more common in modern English and is generally the safer choice when you want neutral wording.
7. Can I use amongst in academic writing?
Yes. Amongst is grammatically acceptable in academic writing. However, among is usually the more neutral and widely preferred choice.
8. Is “among themselves” correct?
Yes. Among themselves is completely correct and is more common than amongst themselves in neutral modern English.
9. What is the difference between among and between?
Among commonly describes someone or something as part of a group. Between often focuses on distinct or separately identified people or things. The traditional rule that between is only for two and among is only for three or more is incomplete.
10. Are among and amongst synonyms?
Yes. They can function as synonyms because they generally express the same relationship of being within or surrounded by a group. The main difference is style and frequency.
Conclusion
Among and amongst are both correct English prepositions. Their basic meaning is the same, so the choice usually comes down to style rather than grammar.
Among is the more common and neutral form, making it the best default for everyday, professional, and academic writing. Amongst is also standard English and can give writing a more traditional, literary, or distinctly British feel.
If you are unsure which one to choose, among is the safest option. It is natural, widely understood, and suitable for almost every modern context.
Read More Blogs:
- Theirself or Themself: Which Is Correct?
- Baby or Babies: How Do You Spell the Plural Correctly?
- Herd or Heard: What’s the Difference?
- Coarse or Course: How to Choose the Right Word Every Time
