Among or Amongst: How to Choose the Right Word

The words among or amongst can be confusing because both are correct English words with almost the same meaning. If you’re unsure which one to use in a sentence, the good news is that you usually don’t need to worry about a major grammatical difference. The choice mainly depends on your writing style, regional preferences, and personal preference.

In this article, I’ll explain the meaning of both words, their pronunciation, their use in British, American, and Canadian English, and how to use them naturally in everyday sentences or academic writing.

Among or Amongst: Which Is Correct?

Both “among” or“amongst” are correct. They are prepositions used to describe someone or something as being part of a group, surrounded by people or things, or included within a collection.

Among is more common in modern American English and is widely used in British English, too. Amongst is also accepted, particularly in British English, although it can sound slightly more formal or literary.

Word	Meaning	Typical usage
Among	In the company of, included in, or surrounded by a group	Common in everyday speech, professional writing, and academic work
Amongst	The same basic meaning as among	Sometimes preferred in British English, formal prose, or literary writing

Examples:

• The teacher walked among the students.
• The teacher walked amongst the students.
• The prize was shared among the winners.
• The prize was shared amongst the winners.

All four sentences are grammatically correct. In most contexts, you can use either word without changing the meaning.

What Does Among Mean?

Among is a preposition that indicates a relationship with a group of people, animals, objects, or ideas. It often suggests that someone or something is part of a larger collection rather than separate from it.

You can use among when talking about people in a crowd, items in a collection, or something distributed across a group.

Examples:

• She felt comfortable among her friends.
• The missing keys were found among the books.
• There was a sense of excitement among the students.
• The decision caused disagreement among the team members.
• He is among the most talented players in the club.

In each sentence, among connects a person or thing with a group.

What Does Amongst Mean?

Amongst is another preposition with essentially the same meaning as among. It can describe being surrounded by a group, belonging to a collection, or sharing something within a group.

The word is especially familiar in British English, though it is not limited to Britain. Some writers choose it because it gives a sentence a more traditional, literary, or formal tone.

Examples:

• The cottage stood amongst the trees.
• She found an old photograph amongst her belongings.
• The news spread quickly amongst the villagers.
• He felt at home amongst his colleagues.
• The agreement was reached amongst the participating countries.

These sentences are also correct with among in place of amongst.

Among or Amongst: What Is the Difference?

The main difference is usage and style rather than meaning or grammar.

Feature	Among	Amongst
Meaning	Within or in the company of a group	Within or in the company of a group
Grammar	Preposition	Preposition
American English	More common	Less common
British English	Very common	Also accepted
Academic writing	Widely used	Acceptable when appropriate
Everyday conversation	Usually the more natural choice	Natural for some speakers
Formal or literary writing	Suitable	Can give a traditional or literary tone

Neither word is inherently more grammatically correct than the other. If you want the simplest, most widely familiar choice, use among. If amongst fits your preferred style, it is also acceptable.

Among or Amongst in British English

Both words are used in British English. However, amongst is often associated with British usage, particularly in traditional or literary writing.

For example:

• The children played among the flowers.
• The children played amongst the flowers.

Both sentences are natural. The second may sound slightly more traditional to some readers, but the meaning remains the same.

British writers do not need to use amongst simply because they are writing in British English. Among is standard British English, too.

Among or Amongst in American English

In American English, among is generally the more common and straightforward choice. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, business communication, journalism, and academic writing.

For example:

• The results varied among the participants.
• The new policy created concern among employees.

Although amongst is understood in American English, it is less common and may sound more literary or old-fashioned to some readers.

Recommendation: If you’re writing for an American audience, choose among unless you have a specific stylistic reason to use amongst.

Among or Amongst in Canadian English

Canadian English accepts both forms. Among is a widely used choice in general writing, while amongst can appear in more traditional or literary contexts.

For example:

• The information was distributed among the applicants.
• The information was distributed amongst the applicants.

Both sentences are correct. For Canadian academic, business, or government writing, among is a safe and familiar option.

Among or Amongst in Academic Writing

Both words are grammatically acceptable in academic writing. The best choice depends on clarity, consistency, and any style requirements set by your institution or publisher.

In research papers, essays, reports, and dissertations, among is often the more straightforward option because it is widely used across English varieties.

Examples:

• The researchers identified significant differences among the three groups.
• The survey examined variations among participants.
• The findings revealed a relationship among several factors.
• The results were consistent among the selected samples.
• The researchers observed differences amongst the participants.

The last example is also grammatically correct. However, unless your preferred style guide recommends otherwise, among is usually a practical default for academic prose.

How to Pronounce Amongst

The pronunciation of amongst is straightforward once you break it into syllables.

• Word: Amongst
• Syllables: A-mongst
• IPA: /əˈmʌŋst/ in common British and American pronunciations
• Stress: The second syllable
• Simple pronunciation: uh-MUNGST

The opening sound is a weak “uh,” followed by a stressed syllable that sounds similar to “mung.” The final consonant cluster ends with the st sound.

For comparison, among is commonly pronounced /əˈmʌŋ/, or “uh-MUNG.”

The main audible difference is the final /st/ sound in amongst. Accents can affect the exact pronunciation, but the word is generally easy to recognize.

Among or Amongst in Sentences

Here are ten examples showing how both words work in natural English. The examples use among as the main form because it is widely familiar, but amongst can replace it in many of these sentences without changing the basic meaning.

• She was sitting among her closest friends.
• The teacher distributed the worksheets among the students.
• A small cabin stood among the tall pine trees.
• The rumour spread quickly among the employees.
• He was chosen among the finalists for the award.
• The missing document was hidden among the old files.
• There was considerable excitement among the crowd.
• The charity divided the donations among several local families.
• The new policy caused confusion among staff members.
• The village was nestled among green hills.

Each sentence connects a person, object, or idea with a group or collection.

Shared Among or Amongst: Which Is Correct?

Both shared among and shared amongst are correct. Use either expression when something is distributed, experienced, or held collectively by members of a group.

Examples:

• The responsibility was shared among all team members.
• The responsibility was shared amongst all team members.
• The news was shared among friends.
• The resources were shared amongst the participating schools.

In modern general writing, shared among is a clear, widely accepted choice.

Divided Among or Amongst: Which Is Correct?

Both expressions are grammatically correct. They describe something being separated or allocated to members of a group.

Examples:

• The money was divided among the four children.
• The money was divided amongst the four children.
• The tasks were divided among the volunteers.
• The available seats were divided amongst the participants.

Use divided among when you want a familiar, neutral expression. Use divided amongst if it suits the tone of your writing.

Split Among or Amongst: Which Is Correct?

Both split among and split amongst are acceptable. They are used when an amount, responsibility, cost, or other resource is distributed across a group.

Examples:

• We split the bill among six people.
• We split the bill amongst six people.
• The workload was split among the employees.
• The inheritance was split amongst the surviving relatives.

The choice does not change the basic meaning. The verb split describes the division, while the preposition identifies the group receiving the portions.

Among or Amongst Us

Both forms can be used before us, depending on the intended meaning.

Examples:

• There is a talented musician among us.
• There is a talented musician amongst us.
• Let’s keep this information among us.
• The truth was known only amongst us.

In these sentences, among us or amongst us refers to members of a group that includes the speaker. The expression among us is more common in everyday modern English.

Remember that the correct choice depends on the sentence. Don’t select a form simply because it sounds more formal.

Among or Amongst Them

Both expressions are correct when referring to members of a group already mentioned.

Examples:

• Several experienced doctors were among them.
• Several experienced doctors were amongst them.
• The documents were scattered among them.
• The secret remained amongst them for years.

The preposition does not change the pronoun them. Both forms can refer to people or, where appropriate, things in a group.

Among or Amongst Other Things

Both expressions are correct in the phrase among other things or amongst other things. The phrase introduces additional examples without suggesting that the list is complete.

Examples:

• The report discusses climate change, energy costs, and public transport, among other things.
• Her duties include scheduling meetings and preparing reports, amongst other things.
• The course covers grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation, among other things.

The phrase among other things is the more familiar choice in contemporary general writing. You can use amongst other things if it matches your preferred style.

Among or Amongst Others

Both forms can be used in the phrase among others, which means that the people or things mentioned are part of a larger group.

Examples:

• The event attracted writers, teachers, and researchers, among others.
• The committee included doctors, engineers, and lawyers, amongst others.
• Several countries, among others, supported the proposal.

The phrase among others is widely used in both formal and informal contexts. Choose amongst others if it fits your writing style.

Walk Among or Amongst

Both expressions describe moving through or being surrounded by a group of people, animals, plants, or objects.

Examples:

• We walked among the trees.
• We walked amongst the trees.
• The guide walked among the visitors.
• The guide walked amongst the visitors.

The choice is stylistic. Walk among is a natural, widely used expression, while walk amongst may give a sentence a more literary feel.

To Be Among or Amongst

Both expressions are correct when describing membership in a group or inclusion in a category.

Examples:

• She hopes to be among the winners.
• She hopes to be amongst the winners.
• He is proud to be among the finalists.
• He is proud to be amongst the finalists.

You can also use the expression to describe a person or thing that belongs to a larger category:

• This is among the best books I’ve read.
• This is amongst the best books I’ve read.

The first version is more common in contemporary general writing, but both are accepted.

Among or Amongst: Common Mistakes to Avoid

Although both forms are correct, a few usage mistakes are worth avoiding.

1. Assuming Amongst Is Incorrect

Incorrect assumption: Amongst is always wrong in modern English.

Correct explanation: Amongst is a legitimate English word. It is less common in some varieties and contexts, but it is not a misspelling.

2. Assuming Among Is Only American English

Incorrect assumption: British English requires amongst.

Correct explanation: Both words are used in British English. Among is also standard and widely accepted.

3. Changing the Word Without Considering Style

If you’re writing a formal report, essay, or business email, changing every instance of among to amongst does not automatically improve the writing.

Choose the form that suits your audience, then use it consistently.

4. Confusing Meaning With Grammar

There is no general grammatical rule that assigns a different meaning to among or amongst. The main difference is usage preference, not a change in grammatical function.

5. Using Among When a Different Preposition Is Needed

Although among works well for groups, it isn’t appropriate in every sentence.

For example:

• Correct: The book is among the papers.
• Correct: The book is between the two folders.

Use between when describing the relationship or position of two distinct items in this example. The correct preposition depends on the relationship you want to describe.

When Should You Use Among or Amongst?

Use these simple guidelines to make your choice.

• For everyday writing: Prefer among because it is widely familiar.
• For American English: Generally choose among.
• For British English: Either form is acceptable.
• For Canadian English: Both are understood; among is a practical default.
• For academic writing: Use among unless a style guide or your writing preferences suggest otherwise.
• For literary writing: Amongst can suit a traditional or stylistic tone.
• For shared resources: Both shared among and shared amongst are correct.
• For division or distribution: Both divided among and divided amongst are correct.
• For movement through a group: Both walk among and walk amongst are acceptable.
• For consistency: Follow the style guide used by your school, publisher, or organization.

The easiest rule to remember is that among is the versatile default, while amongst is an equally legitimate alternative in suitable contexts.

FAQs

1. Is Among or Amongst More Grammatically Correct?

Neither is more grammatically correct. Both are standard prepositions with essentially the same meaning. Among is more common in many contexts, but amongst is also correct.

2. Is Amongst Proper English?

Yes. Amongst is a legitimate English word used in British English, American English, and other English varieties, although its frequency varies.

3. Do British People Say Among or Amongst?

British speakers use both. Some prefer amongst, particularly in traditional or literary contexts, but among is also extremely common.

4. Is Among or Amongst Better for Formal Writing?

Both can work in formal writing. Among is usually the straightforward choice because it is widely familiar. Follow your organization’s or publisher’s style guide if one applies.

5. Is Amongst Old-Fashioned?

It can sound more traditional or literary to some readers, but it is not obsolete. It remains an accepted word in contemporary English.

6. Can I Use Among or Amongst Interchangeably?

Yes, in most sentences they can be used interchangeably without changing the meaning. However, your audience, preferred style, or a particular style guide may favor one form.

7. Should I Write Shared Among or Shared Amongst?

Both are correct. Shared among is a common, neutral choice, while shared amongst is also grammatically acceptable.

8. Is Among or Amongst Better for Academic Writing?

Among is generally a safe choice for academic writing because it is common and direct. Amongst is acceptable when it suits the author’s style or the relevant style requirements.

9. How Do You Pronounce Amongst?

It is commonly pronounced /əˈmʌŋst/, or “uh-MUNGST,” with stress on the second syllable.

10. Is Amongst Used in Canadian English?

Yes. Canadian English accepts both forms. Among is widely used, while amongst is also understood and grammatically correct.

Conclusion

Both among or amongst are correct English prepositions with nearly identical meanings. The main difference is how frequently they are used and the style they may convey. Among is the more common, versatile choice for everyday, professional, and academic writing. Amongst is also acceptable and may suit British English or a more traditional literary style.

If you’re unsure, choose among. It is widely recognized, sounds natural in most contexts, and works well for almost any audience. You can use amongst whenever it better suits your writing style or the conventions you follow.