ShmoopTube

00:04

Between versus Among, a la Shmoop. Prom looms on the horizon. Do you choose between

00:10

Zac and Max...

00:11

...or attend the dance among your friends?

00:15

What is the rule for “between” versus “among”, anyway?

00:18

Basically, use “between” when you're writing about two things...

00:21

...and “among” when you're writing about more than two things.

00:25

Easy, right? Or at least easier than choosing between dreamy Zac and adorable Max.

00:31

Let's look at some examples.

00:33

In Pride and Prejudice, Lizzie Bennet has to choose between continuing to hate Fitzwilliam

00:39

Darcy...

00:39

...and loving Fitzwilliam Darcy. Hey, we never said it was a difficult choice.

00:44

Darcy has loads of money and social connections. He could have any girl among the ranks of

00:48

England's aristocrats.

00:50

But he picks Lizzie. Again, not a tough decision. Of course, there's an exception to this rule.

00:55

You can use the word “between” when talking about more than two things, so long as they

01:00

are individual and distinct. For example, you could say, “Jill sat between

01:04

her mom, her dad, and her sister”.

01:07

If you want to use “among” instead of “between”, you would say, “Jill sat

01:11

among her family”. And that's the rule...

01:13

...use “between” when you're writing about two things...

01:15

...and “among” when you're writing about more than two things.

01:17

Oh, and for those of you wondering if you can use “amongst” instead of “among”...

01:21

...remember that this is America, and we say “among” on this side of the pond.

Full Transcript