Confusing words explained
“among” vs “amongst” — What’s the Difference?
Among is standard; amongst is British formal.
Key takeaway
Quick Difference: among vs amongst
Among is standard; amongst is British formal.
among vs amongst Side-by-Side Comparison
Meaning of among
In the middle of a group of people or things; surrounded by or moving through others.
Inside a group, surrounded by multiple people or things.
Use among before plural nouns for a group of three or more. Use between for exactly two items.
- I found my keys among the cushions on the sofa.
- She walked among the crowd of protesters, taking notes for her article.
Meaning of amongst
Surrounded by; in the middle of; mixed with.
Mixed together with a group. The British version of 'among'.
Use amongst in formal British writing; among is more neutral.
- She walked amongst the trees in the forest.
- He felt comfortable amongst his friends.
Usage Notes & Nuance
amongst: Amongst is the British variant; 'among' is standard globally.
How to Remember the Difference
Among is modern and universal; amongst sounds old-fashioned (use it sparingly).
Common Mistakes with among and amongst
Mistake with among
Wrong: The differences among the twin brothers are subtle.
Correct: The differences between the twin brothers are subtle.
Use 'between' for exactly two people or things; use 'among' for three or more.
Mistake with among
Wrong: Choose among two options please.
Correct: Choose between the two options please.
For exactly two items, use 'between', not 'among'.
Mistake with amongst
Correct: Use among in most contexts
Mistake with amongst
Correct: between
Practice Quiz: among or amongst?
Choose the word that best completes each real example sentence.
Question 1
I found my keys _____ the cushions on the sofa.
Question 2
She walked _____ the crowd of protesters, taking notes for her article.
Question 3
_____ developing nations, literacy rates have improved dramatically in the past decade.
Pick at least one answer, then press Check answers to see how you did.
You scored 0 out of 3
Frequently Asked Questions About among vs amongst
What’s the difference between “among” and “amongst”?
Among is standard; amongst is British formal.
When should I use “among”?
Use among before plural nouns for a group of three or more. Use between for exactly two items.
When should I use “amongst”?
Use amongst in formal British writing; among is more neutral.
How can I remember among vs amongst?
Among is modern and universal; amongst sounds old-fashioned (use it sparingly).
Is it “among” or “amongst” in example sentences?
Use the quiz above to test the pair with real example sentences from the available word data.