Among vs. Amongst: What’s the Difference?

The words among and amongst have the same meaning — in the middle of or surrounded by.

The only difference is style and region, not grammar.

Here’s the short rule:

• Among → more common and modern (especially in American English).
• Amongst → older, more formal, and mostly used in British English.

1. Among: The Modern and Common Choice

Meaning

“Among” means being in the company of, included in a group, or surrounded by multiple things or people.

It’s used in everyday English and preferred in both writing and speech, especially in the United States.

Examples (10 total)

1. She was sitting among friends.
2. The flowers were hidden among the tall grass.
3. The teacher walked among the students.
4. There was excitement among the crowd.
5. He is popular among his classmates.
6. We divided the money among the team members.
7. A secret was shared among the group.
8. The document was found among old files.
9. There’s confusion among the new staff.
10. The bird flew among the trees.

🧠 Tip:
Use among for all modern, professional, or academic writing — it’s the safest choice.

2. Amongst: The Older, British Alternative

Meaning

“Amongst” has the same meaning as among, but it sounds more formal, old-fashioned, or poetic.
It’s used mainly in British English and in literary or religious writing.

Examples (10 total)

1. She lived amongst artists and poets.
2. The king walked amongst his people.
3. There was peace amongst the nations.
4. He stood amongst the ruins in silence.
5. Love grows amongst friends and family.
6. The truth was hidden amongst lies.
7. She moved amongst strangers without fear.
8. Hope remained amongst the chaos.
9. The castle stood amongst the hills.
10. A whisper spread amongst the crowd.

🧠 Tip:
If you want your writing to sound formal, poetic, or British, you can use amongst — but it’s optional.

3. Quick Comparison Table

4. How to Remember

👉 Among = modern and safe for all writing.
👉 Amongst = fancy, poetic, or British flavor.

💡 Memory Trick:

“Amongst” sounds like Shakespeare — use it when you want your writing to sound old-school.

5. Common Mistakes

❌ She was hiding amongst the tall people. (Not wrong, but sounds too formal for casual use.)
✅ She was hiding among the tall people.

❌ There was laughter amongst the students. (Fine in the U.K., too stiff in the U.S.)
✅ There was laughter among the students.

6. Why It’s Easy to Mix Up

Both words have identical meanings, so you can’t make a “grammar” mistake.
It’s just about tone and region — among is modern and universal, while amongst is literary and British.
Even advanced AI writing assistants like Humanizey can detect and adapt your word choice to match your tone and audience automatically.

FAQs

1. Is “amongst” wrong in American English?

No, but it sounds old-fashioned. Americans almost always use among.

2. Is there any situation where “amongst” is preferred?

Yes — in British literature, historical texts, or when aiming for a formal or poetic tone.

3. Can I use “amongst” in academic writing?

You can, but among is clearer and more professional.

4. Do they mean exactly the same thing?

Yes — there’s no difference in meaning, only in style.

Practice: Choose the Correct Word (“Among” or “Amongst”)

(Answers are listed at the end.)

1. She sat quietly ___ her friends.
2. The castle stood ___ the green hills.
3. There’s disagreement ___ the team.
4. The king walked ___ his loyal knights.
5. The papers were scattered ___ the books.
6. He lived ___ poets and painters.
7. The rumor spread quickly ___ the crowd.
8. Love blossomed ___ the ruins.
9. The children played ___ the trees.
10. She found comfort ___ her family.

Answers

1. among
2. amongst
3. among
4. amongst
5. among
6. amongst
7. among
8. amongst
9. among
10. among