BETWEEN, AMONG, AMONGST

You use between to talk about anything that separates two people or things, for example a distance, space, object, person, point, or place.

1. …an area between Mars and Jupiter.
2. …the wide expanse of short grass between the lake and the great house.
3. …the Orange River boundary between the Free State and the Eastern Province.

You use among or amongst to talk about a person or thing that is surrounded by more than two other people or things. Amongst is less common.

4. The house stood unfenced in green grass among grazing black faced sheep.
5. Stephanie moved amongst the guests, thanking people for things.

Note that if someone or something is between things or people, the things or people are on either side of them. If someone or something is among or amongst things or people, the things or people are all around them.

6. He sat silently for a while, staring down at the glass between his hands.
7. The canvas bag was standing on the floor between us.
8. …the sound of a wood pigeon cooing among the trees.

• You can talk about relationships between or among people or things. You can also talk about arguments or discussions between or among people. You use between when there are two people or things. You normally use among or amongst when there are more than two.

9. This raised important questions about the relationship between the state and the public sector.
10. …the similarities between the two situations.
11. She had already caused considerable rivalry among the men.
12. There is a striking similarity among the wall paintings throughout these regions.
13. …an argument between his mother and another Polish woman.
14. …an opportunity to discuss policy and educational issues amongst themselves.