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between and among

between two​

We say that something is between two people, things, or groups of things.

  • She was standing between Alice and Emily.
  • a long valley between high mountains

Between is often used to talk about distances or intervals.

  • We need two metres between the windows.
  • I’ll be at the office between nine and eleven.

Between is common before each.

  • There seems to be less and less time between each birthday.

between or among more than two​

We usually say that somebody or something is between several clearly separate people or things. We prefer among when somebody or something is in a group, a crowd or a mass of people or things which we do not see separately. Compare:

  • Our house is between the woods, the river and the village.
    His house is hidden among the trees.
  • I saw something between the wheels of the car.
    Your passport is somewhere among all these papers.

Among is normal before a singular (uncountable) noun.

  • They found an envelope full of money among all the rubbish.

Dividing and sharing; difference​

We can talk about dividing or sharing things between or among more than two people or groups.

  • He divided all his money between/among his children and grandchildren.
  • We shared the work between/among the five of us.

We normally use between after difference.

  • There are enormous differences between languages.
  • What’s the difference between ‘between’ and ‘among’?

‘one of’, etc​

Among can mean ‘one of’, ‘some of’ or ‘included in’.

  • Among the first to arrive was the ambassador.
  • He has a number of criminals among his friends.