Distinguishing Among & Between: A Comparison

Among vs Between

The primary distinction between the prepositions “among” and “between” is that “between” is used for choices involving two objects or persons, while “among” is used for choices involving more than two objects or persons. For instance, consider the sentences “you have the choice between Dell and HP computers” and “I noticed Jane among her friends in the cinema.” In the first example, only two objects are involved, whereas in the second example, a group of people is involved. This is the most common grammatical understanding for the usage of these two prepositions, between and among. Moreover, while “between” is mainly used as a preposition, it is sometimes used as an adverb.

Key Takeaways

• “Between” is generally used for choices involving two objects or persons, while “among” is used for choices involving more than two objects or persons.
• “Between” can also be used for choices involving distinct individual things or places, while “among” is used when choices are considered as a mass or collectivity.
• In Standard English, it is incorrect to say “between you and I” – the correct form is “between you and me.”

What does Between mean?

As mentioned above, “between” is used for choices involving two objects or persons. However, this rule may not always apply. According to grammarians, “between” can be used for choices involving distinct individual things or places. Take a look at this sentence: “He chose between Francis, Miller, and Roger hospitals.” In this case, the person is choosing between three hospitals, each being a distinct individual thing. Note that in Standard English, it is incorrect to say “between you and I” – the correct form is “between you and me.” This is because a preposition like “between” should be followed by an object pronoun such as “her” or “me.”

What does Among mean?

The preposition “among,” which has its origins in Old English, is used for choices involving more than two objects or persons. It can also be used when choices are considered as a mass or collectivity. For example: “The issue caused a sensation among people.” Here, the word “people” is used in a collective sense and is not considered as a distinct individual thing.

What is the difference between Among and Between?

• “Between” is used for choices involving two objects or persons, while “among” is used for choices involving more than two objects or persons.
• “Between” can be used for choices involving distinct individual things or places, while “among” is used when choices are considered as a mass or collectivity.
• For example, if a helicopter crashed “between” the houses, it is presumed that none of the individual houses were hit. If it crashed “among” the houses, it creates doubt about whether any houses were hit.