Choosing Between Among and Amongst: A Simple Guide

Among vs. Amongst

History of the Words

The word among comes from Old English. It is a very old word, and people have used it for a long time. Amongst is also old, coming from Middle English. Today, among is much more common.

How to Use Them

Both among and amongst mean the same thing. They are used when talking about being part of a group or when something is in the middle of other things. But among is used more often in everyday talk.

Using “Among”

• The cat is hiding among the bushes.
• She found her book among the others on the shelf.
• There were many stars among the night sky.
• He is popular among his friends.
• The toys were scattered among the floor.

Using “Amongst”

• The garden was amongst the fields.
• She felt lonely amongst the crowd.
• The teacher walked amongst the students.
• Flowers grew amongst the rocks.
• The whisper spread amongst the people.

Trick to Remember the Difference

Remember, if you want to sound more formal or old-fashioned, you can use amongst. But if you are just chatting with friends or writing simply, among is your word. It’s easy!

Summary

Both among and amongst are right, but among is more common. Use among for everyday writing and speaking. Use amongst only if you want to sound formal or old-fashioned.