Among vs. Amongst: What’s the Difference?

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“Among” and “amongst” are two words that often confuse English learners. They look and mean almost the same, but which one should you use? Are they completely interchangeable, or is there a rule? In this reference, we’ll explore the difference between among and amongst, provide usage tips, and help you use each one correctly and confidently.

Among vs. Amongst: the Overview

What Does “Among” Mean?

“Among” is a preposition used to describe being in the middle of or surrounded by more than two people or things. It’s commonly used in both spoken and written English and is the preferred choice in American English.

Examples:

• She sat among her friends.
• The secret was hidden among the books.
• There is a lot of competition among tech companies.

Usage Tips:

• Use “among” when referring to relationships, distribution, or presence within a group.
• Preferred in modern English writing and speech.

Grammatical Rules for “Among”

When using “among,” it is important to keep in mind the following grammatical rules:

Grammatical Rule	Example Sentence
Used to describe position	You are among the best writers in the world.
Followed by plural noun	The book was hidden among the other books on the shelf.
Used to describe relationship between multiple things	The treaty was among the many issues discussed at the conference.
More commonly used in American English	You will find many opportunities among the various career paths.
Not used to describe relationship between two things	The conversation was between the two of them.
Can be used with singular noun referring to a group	The teacher was among the first to arrive at the meeting.
Not used to describe physical location	The store is located between the bank and the post office.

What Does “Amongst” Mean?

“Amongst” is a variant of “among” and is also a preposition. It carries the same meaning as “among” but is mostly used in British English or in more formal or literary contexts.

Examples:

• The treasure was hidden amongst the rocks.
• He found himself amongst strangers.
• Discussions amongst the team members took hours.

Usage Tips:

• Use “amongst” if you’re writing in a British English style or aiming for a more poetic or old-fashioned tone.
• Avoid using it in formal American English writing.

Grammatical Rules for “Amongst”

“Amongst” is a preposition that means the same thing as “among.” It is used to indicate that something is included in a group or category.

Grammatical Rule	Example Sentence
Preposition Usage	You are amongst friends.
Followed by plural nouns	The book is amongst the others on the shelf.
Describes relationships in a group	The house is hidden amongst the trees.
Used in informal or poetic English	The flowers were hidden amongst the bushes.
Less common in formal writing	The group of friends was sitting amongst the crowd.

Among vs. Amongst: Key Differences

Feature	Among	Amongst
Usage Frequency	More common	Less common
Region	American and British English	Primarily British English
Formality	Neutral	Slightly more formal or literary
Context	Everyday use	Poetic, formal, or old-fashioned use
Interchangeable?	Yes	Yes, but style and tone may vary

Common Phrases with “Among” and “Amongst”

With “Among”:

Here are common phrases and expressions using “among”:

• Among friends – She always felt safe and happy among friends.
• Among the best – Your project was ranked among the best.
• Among the crowd – He disappeared among the crowd after the show.
• Among the living – It’s a miracle that he’s still among the living.
• Among other things – The box contained books, old letters, and among other things, a diary.

With “Amongst”:

Here are some refined phrases that sound more poetic or British:

• Amongst ourselves – Let’s keep this matter just amongst ourselves.
• Amongst the elite – He rose to fame and lived amongst the elite.
• Amongst the ruins – They found ancient artifacts amongst the ruins.
• Amongst the confusion – She stayed calm amongst the confusion.
• Amongst the crowd – The queen walked slowly amongst the crowd, waving graciously.

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