{"id":4909,"date":"2017-04-26T08:54:07","date_gmt":"2017-04-26T08:54:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/charlesavemktg.com\/blog\/?p=4909"},"modified":"2018-08-09T17:40:52","modified_gmt":"2018-08-10T00:40:52","slug":"between-among","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/charlesavemktg.com\/blog\/between-among\/","title":{"rendered":"Between Us, Among Them"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In today’s edition of #WritingWednesday, let’s discuss between<\/em> and among<\/em>.<\/p>\n

If you’re a grammar nerd like me, you might think you know where this piece is going. The common wisdom is that you use between<\/em> to describe two things, and among<\/em> for any quantity greater than two. For example,<\/p>\n

This secret is just between<\/em> you and me.<\/p>\n

This secret is just among<\/em> friends.<\/p>\n

However, according to the Oxford Dictionaries blog<\/a>, this rule of thumb is outdated:<\/p>\n

Such advice is now regarded as outdated and out of step with current usage. In fact, as the Oxford English Dictionary<\/em> (OED<\/em>) states, \u2018In all senses, between<\/em> has been, from its earliest appearance, extended to more than two\u2019: there\u2019s an example of this from the year 971 (yes, not 1971!). Contemporary authorities (such as Pocket Fowler\u2019s Modern English Usage) advise that it\u2019s perfectly acceptable to use between <\/em>or among <\/em>in certain contexts when referring to more than two participants:<\/p>\n

\u2714 He divided his fortune between <\/strong>his four children<\/em>.
\n\u2714\u00a0He divided his fortune among<\/strong> his four children<\/em>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Both sentences are correct. Who saw that little plot twist coming?<\/p>\n

This is not to say that between<\/em> and among<\/em> are interchangeable, however. Instead, follow these guidelines:<\/p>\n