Confusing words explained
“between” vs “among” — What’s the Difference?
Between refers to two things; among refers to three or more
Key takeaway
Quick Difference: between vs among
Between refers to two things; among refers to three or more
between vs among Side-by-Side Comparison
Meaning of between
in the space separating two people, things, or places; in the middle of two points
Between shows a location or position in the middle of two other things or people.
Use between with two people, places, or things; use among for three or more.
- The park is between my school and my house.
- Can you sit between Tom and Sarah at the dinner table?
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.
How to Remember the Difference
Between for individual relationships (even many); among for grouped masses.
Common Mistakes with between and among
Mistake with between
Wrong: There is a difference between the three methods.
Correct: There is a difference among the three methods.
Use 'between' only for two things; use 'among' for three or more.
Mistake with between
Wrong: The secret is between you, me, and him.
Correct: The secret is among the three of us.
With more than two people, use 'among' instead of 'between'.
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'.
Practice Quiz: between or among?
Choose the word that best completes each real example sentence.
Question 1
The park is _____ my school and my house.
Question 2
Can you sit _____ Tom and Sarah at the dinner table?
Question 3
There is a strong friendship _____ the two childhood friends.
Pick at least one answer, then press Check answers to see how you did.
You scored 0 out of 3
Frequently Asked Questions About between vs among
What’s the difference between “between” and “among”?
Between refers to two things; among refers to three or more
When should I use “between”?
Use between with two people, places, or things; use among for three or more.
When should I use “among”?
Use among before plural nouns for a group of three or more. Use between for exactly two items.
How can I remember between vs among?
Between for individual relationships (even many); among for grouped masses.
Is it “between” or “among” in example sentences?
Use the quiz above to test the pair with real example sentences from the available word data.