Amid

Question

Amid in sentence:I was standing amid many noises.Amid vs. Among vs. BetweenIs "many" used correctly before "noises"?I thought "noise" is uncountable in the given example.When can we replace "amid" with among? Can we replace amid with among and if not , why?Thank you in advance.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

JigneshbharatiIs "many" used correctly before "noises"?

Yes.

JigneshbharatiI thought "noise" is uncountable in the given example.

It can't be uncountable in the given example because it's in the plural.

You can hear one noise, then another noise, then another noise. You have heard three noises. Countable.

You can hear one noise in front of you, and another noise to your right, and another noise to your left, another noise behind you, and another noise above you. You are hearing quite a lot of noises. Countable.

Or you can hear generalized noise all around you. Uncountable.

JigneshbharatiWhen can we replace "amid" with among? Can we replace amid with among and if not , why?

Occasionally you can replace one of these with the other, but each has its own uses. 'among' is used much more often than 'amid'. 'amid' is more formal.

Here are some typical phrases with those words:

amid the shouts, amid the cheers, amid the ruins, amid the crowd

among the people, among the Indians, among the Greeks,
among others, among men, among nations

Use only 'among' when you're talking about a selection of people from a group:

Everyone among them knew who the prime minister was.
Among the people that I talked to, very few expressed an interest in poetry.
This is the most successful company among those which compete with Apple.

'amid' is used with more abstract complements:

The CEO resigned amid philosophical differences with the board of directors.
The targeting of journalists comes amid increasing tension in Eastern Europe.
During those years thousands of jobs were lost amid sharp declines in advertising.

CJ

Amid

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