Good morning, everyone. Today, we're going to talk about two very common prepositions in English: between and among. While they might seem interchangeable, they have distinct uses that are important for clear communication. Understanding when to use each one will make your writing and speaking more precise.
Prepositions of Place
The most fundamental distinction between between and among relates to how we perceive the objects or people they refer to.
Between is used when we're talking about two or more people or things that we see as individual and separate. Think of it as a one-to-one relationship. For example, if you hold a diamond, you hold it between your thumb and forefinger—two distinct digits. Similarly, when describing the location of Zimbabwe, we say it is situated between four specific, individual countries: Zambia, Mozambique, Botswana, and South Africa.
Among is used when we're referring to people or things that are part of a group or a mass. The focus isn't on the individuals, but on the collective. It also requires at least three people or things. For instance, if someone is standing in a crowd, they are standing among their friends. Their friends are seen as a single, undifferentiated group. When a person finds their passport in a drawer, they find it among the clothes, which are a jumble, not individual items.
An interesting side note is that you might occasionally see the word amongst used instead of among. This is more common in literary or older texts and has a similar meaning.
Other Uses of "Between" and "Among"
Beyond their use as prepositions of place, these words have other important functions.
The Versatility of "Between"
Between is often used to describe relationships, comparisons, and choices.
Comparisons and Relationships: We use between to talk about a balance, link, or connection that exists between different things. For example, there can be a link between unemployment and crime, or a difference between two ideas. This usage highlights the distinctness of the items being compared. Other words commonly used with between in this context include: association, comparison, contrast, correlation, distinction, and relationship.
Choices: When you have to make a choice from a list of options, you choose between them. Even if there are more than two options, like choosing between the universities of Leeds, York, and Manchester, the word between is still correct because you're considering each option as an individual choice.
Discussions and Agreements: We use between to describe discussions, disagreements, or agreements that involve specific, named individuals or groups. A treaty is signed between Great Britain and France, and a disagreement occurs between Emma, Jade, and Zoe.
Shared Amounts: When a total amount is shared among specific individuals, we can use between to indicate the collective effort. For example, if two people together earn a certain amount of money, we can say that between them, they earn that sum.
The Specificity of "Among"
Among also has specific uses outside of describing place.
Within a Group: We use among to mean "existing or happening in a particular group." A disease might break out among the hill tribes, or a certain type of music might be popular among teenagers. This use emphasizes that the event or characteristic is present throughout the group as a whole.
Part of a Group: We use among to indicate that someone or something is included in a particular group. We can say that someone is among the best athletes in the world, or that a city is among the highest capital cities in South America. In this sense, it means "one of a group."
In summary, the key is to think about whether you're dealing with distinct individuals (between) or a collective whole (among). This simple rule will guide you in using these prepositions correctly.
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