Is it spelled “amongst” or “among”?

What do “among” and “amongst” mean?

“Among” and “amongst” mean surrounded by someone or something, or in the middle of someone or something. These prepositions date back hundreds of years ago, but “among” is more commonly used today.

The history of the word “among”

Although “amongst” sounds archaic to most American English speakers, “among” dates back further in history. First used in Old English, the usage of “among” started at least a few hundred years before the word “amongst,” which started being used in Middle English.

How to use “among” or “amongst”

When writing a sentence, you can use “among” and “amongst” interchangeably. The sentences “The teacher asked her students to talk among themselves,” and “The teacher asked her students to talk amongst themselves” are both grammatically correct. If you can use the word “among,” you can also use “amongst”—it’s mostly up to your personal preference.

However, just because a sentence is grammatically correct doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider the best possible word choice. If you’re writing for an American audience, your readers may not be familiar with the word “amongst.” It’s less commonly used in American English and could be confusing or feel overly formal to some readers. For British audiences, “amongst” may feel more natural to use.

Using “among” in a sentence

Use the word “among” to describe the group someone or something is in. These examples show how the word looks in a sentence when used correctly:

• “The children were happy to be among friends.”
• “The gardener planted flowers among the vegetables to attract pollinators.”
• “Can we keep this conversation among ourselves?”

Using “among” vs. “between” vs. “amid”

Another common question about the word “among” is whether it’s better to use the word “between.” Although “among” and “between” have similar meanings, they usually can’t be used interchangeably. Use the word between to express a relation to individual, and usually equal, things. For example, the distance between your home and your office. If you’re referring to less specific and more collective things, it’s best to use the word “among.”

“Amid” is even more similar to the word “among,” but should be used in a slightly different context. When writing about nouns that can be counted—including a large number of things or people—use the word “among.” However, if the noun is intangible or can’t be counted, like smoke or music, choose “amid” instead. For example, “The boat came to shore amid the fog,” and “The boat came to shore among the other ships,” would be grammatically correct.

Now that you know the difference between “among” and “amongst,” you can feel comfortable using these words in your writing. Whether you’re among writing pros or grammar amateurs, understanding and avoiding common mistakes will make your words stand out.