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The difference between “between” and “among” is probably not something you think about very often.  Okay, so maybe you’ve never thought about it at all.  (Am I the only grammar nerd here?)  Seriously though, there is a difference and while they may seem to be interchangeable terms, these two words have different meanings.  So, what’s the difference?  Here’s the breakdown:

Between: The easiest way to determine when to use this word is to think of “between two things.” Note that it can also be used for a list of single, clearly identified items.

Example:  She chose between strawberries, blueberries and bananas for her smoothie.

Among: This word is used with plural items and in reference to a group that someone is either a part of or left out of.  It can also be used to describe an ambiguous location.

Example: Ronnie enjoyed being among other fishing enthusiasts.

Let’s Try it Out:

Which is correct?

A. She chose to spend her free time between the dog park, the mall and the gym.

B. She chose to spend her free time among the dog park, the mall and the gym.

Answer: “A” is correct because the sentence is describing three distinct places.

Which is correct?

A. Tiffany was the only brunette among the group of blonds.

B. Tiffany was the only brunette between the group of blonds.

Answer: The correct answer is “A.”  Taking a closer look, the “A” sentence makes the most sense because Tiffany is left out of the group of blonds.

Let’s try one more…

Which is correct?

A. Henry rode his bike between the rocks.

B. Henry rode his bike among the rocks.

Answer: Both!  This is a little tricky, which is why I wanted to include it last.  When it comes to location, if you say “between” you are talking about a distinct location. For instance, “A” means Henry rode is bike in the middle of rocks, avoiding them all together.  On the other hand, “B” means that Henry rode is bike around the rocks or on the rocks, but not on a clearly defined path.

Reference credit: Grammar Girl, one of my favorite grammar resources, has a fantastic post on this topic as well. You can find it here.

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