Distinguishing Between Among & Amongst

Among vs Amongst

The distinction between “among” and “amongst” is not based on their meanings or connotations but rather on their usage. Both words have the same meaning, which is “surrounded by, included in, jointly and between.” Language evolves over time, leading to the creation of new words with the same meaning or different meanings for existing words. “Among” was the first of the two words to be formed, with “amongst” appearing later.

What does Among mean?

“Among” is used to convey the sense of “surrounded by” in sentences such as “He found himself among lions” and “She was among her friends.” In these cases, the meaning of the sentences is “he found himself surrounded by lions” and “she was surrounded by her friends,” respectively.

“Among” can also be used in other senses, such as “included in” (“A baby was among the murdered”), “jointly” (“You will have to make the selections among yourselves”), and “between” (“They had to share the cake among themselves”). It is important to note that “among” is used instead of “between” when referring to more than two people or things. Each of these sentences can be rewritten with “amongst” without altering their meaning.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, “among” is more commonly used than “amongst.” It is also more than twice as likely to be used in American English than British English.

What does Amongst mean?

“Amongst” has the same meaning as “among,” but its usage differs. It is rarely used in American English, where “among” is preferred. British English, on the other hand, makes use of both “among” and “amongst.” In some cases, “amongst” is considered old-fashioned or even pretentious, so it is not recommended for American English speakers.

What is the difference between Among and Amongst?

• Both “among” and “amongst” are prepositions with the same meaning: “surrounded by, included in, jointly, and between.”
• “Among” is more common than “amongst.”
• “Among” is used more frequently in American English than in British English.
• Americans prefer to use “among.”
• British English uses both “among” and “amongst.”
• Americans consider “amongst” to be old-fashioned and pretentious.