Practice
Among and amongst: understand the difference
Sign in to saveA note can be hidden among the papers or amongst the papers. The location does not change, but the second choice can give the sentence a more formal or old-fashioned sound.
Choose among or amongst according to meaning, register, and the English variety you are writing or speaking in.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
among the people /əˈmʌŋ ðə ˈpiːpəl/
The short answer
Among and amongst normally mean the same thing. Use among for a straightforward modern choice. Use amongst when it suits the voice of the text, especially in a formal, literary, or British-English context.
The volunteers shared the tasks among themselves.
Why it works: Among is a natural choice in ordinary modern writing.
5 more examples
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The rumour spread among the staff before lunch.
The staff are treated as a group within which the news moves.
Not this:The rumour spread
amongst the staffbefore lunch. What changes: The meaning is unchanged; amongst gives the sentence a more formal or literary flavour. -
She found the receipt among the old papers.
Among is a clear, ordinary choice for a practical situation.
Not this:She found the receipt
amongst the old papers. What changes: This is grammatical too, but some readers may hear a more formal tone. -
Among the applicants, several had relevant experience.
The phrase introduces a point about members of one group.
Not this:
Amongst the applicants, several had relevant experience. What changes: The sentence still means the same, while the register becomes more marked. -
The guide pointed out a quiet path among the trees.
The trees form the setting around the path.
Not this:The guide pointed out a quiet path
amongst the trees. What changes: Amongst may suit descriptive or story-like writing. -
We discussed the proposal among ourselves first.
The reflexive pronoun refers to the members of the group.
Not this:We discussed the proposal
amongst ourselvesfirst. What changes: Both forms are possible, though among ourselves is more usual in everyday conversation.
Read the full guide
Both words are prepositions. They often come before a plural noun or a group expression: among friends, amongst the trees, among the applicants. They can also appear in set phrases such as among other things. Choosing amongst does not make an idea more precise. It mainly changes the style that a reader hears in the sentence.
Learn the shared meaning first
Among and amongst place someone or something inside a group. They can show location, inclusion, sharing, or activity within that group. In most sentences, replacing one with the other does not change the basic fact being described.
A yellow scarf lay among the coats.
The coats form a surrounding group. Amongst the coats would describe the same position.
Which word can complete The names were shared ___ the organisers?
Either can work: among the organisers or amongst the organisers.
Use among as the neutral default
Among is common in current general English. It works well in messages, explanations, instructions, reports, and ordinary conversation. When you have no reason to create a particular formal or literary effect, among is a reliable choice.
Please circulate the schedule among the team.
The direct workplace instruction sounds natural with among.
Among other things, the report explains the new timetable.
Among other things is a familiar phrase in neutral writing.
Notice the style of amongst
Amongst is a standard word, but it is less common in much everyday writing. It can sound formal, literary, or traditional. It is heard and written more often in some British-English contexts than in many American-English contexts. That is a style tendency, not a rule that makes one form correct and the other incorrect.
Amongst the ruins, they found a stone well.
Amongst supports the descriptive, story-like tone of this sentence.
Which form is likely to feel simpler in a short app instruction?
Use among: Save the file among your project documents.
Match the form to the whole text
A single word can affect the voice of a paragraph. If the surrounding language is direct and modern, among usually blends in. If the passage deliberately uses a formal or historical voice, amongst may fit better. Think about the audience, purpose, and other word choices before deciding.
Among the survey responses, transport was the most common concern.
Among fits the plain style of a survey summary.
Amongst the lanterns, a narrow doorway appeared.
Amongst can fit a more atmospheric description.
Keep your choice consistent
Neither form needs to appear everywhere. If you use either one several times in a short document, however, consistency helps the text feel deliberate. Check headings, captions, examples, and edited quotations separately. A style guide for a workplace, course, or publisher may also state a preference.
The committee selected three proposals from among the entries.
Continue with among elsewhere in this neutral report unless you have a reason to change the register.
Can you use amongst in a sentence that already uses plain, casual language?
Yes, but it may sound noticeably formal. Use it only if that contrast is intentional.
Before you go
Remember this
Among and amongst have the same core meaning: within or surrounded by a group. Choose among for a neutral, common modern form. Choose amongst when a more formal, literary, or particular British-English tone suits the text, then use your chosen form consistently.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Among and amongst: understand the difference"
Is there a meaning difference between among and amongst?
Usually no. Both words mean within, surrounded by, or included in a group. The main difference is style rather than grammar or basic meaning.
The rumour spread among the staff before lunch.
Which is more common, among or amongst?
Among is the more common neutral choice in much modern English. Amongst is also standard, but it can sound more formal, literary, or traditional depending on the audience and the sentence.
The rumour spread amongst the staff before lunch.
Is amongst only British English?
No. Amongst can be understood and used in more than one variety of English. It is often associated more strongly with British usage and formal prose, while among is widely common across varieties.
She found the receipt among the old papers.
Can I use amongst in an email or report?
You can, because it is grammatical. In a plain workplace email or a concise report, among will often sound more natural. Use amongst when it fits the established voice of the document.
She found the receipt amongst the old papers.
Should I use among and amongst in the same piece of writing?
Both may be correct, but changing between them without a reason can make the style feel uneven. Choose the form that suits the text and use it consistently, unless you are quoting someone or deliberately changing the voice.
Among the applicants, several had relevant experience.