among / between
It is often taught that “between” is used for 2 items and “among” for 3 or more – but
this is not completely accurate. The more accurate difference is this:
Between is used when naming distinct, individual items (can be 2, 3, or
more)
Among is used when the items are part of a group, or are not specifically
named (in this case, they MUST be 3 or more)
This example will help illustrate the difference:
The negotiations between Brazil, Argentina, and Chile are going well.
The negotiations among the countries of South America are going well.
Of course, these sentences are not equivalent (because there are more countries in
South America than just Brazil, Argentina, and Chile) but they illustrate the rule –
you CAN use between with 3 individual items, and you must use among when
talking about a general group (in which no specific countries are named).
Here’s another example:
P a g e
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