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Columbus Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

among & amongst

Dear friends,

Any idea how to use these 2 words - among & amongst... or these are same ?
  

Top answer

They are synonymous. Amongst is the older form, and is dying. Nowadays, amongst is listed in most dictionaries as a variant of among , but in the Webster's 1913 edition, it is the other way around: among appears as a variant of amongst .

— Mister Micawber

  • They are synonymous.
  • Amongst is the older form, and is dying.
  • Nowadays, amongst is listed in most dictionaries as a variant of among , but in the Webster's 1913 edition, it is the other way around: among appears as a variant of amongst .
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5 Answers
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They are synonymous. Amongst is the older form, and is dying. Nowadays, amongst is listed in most dictionaries as a variant of among, but in the Webster's 1913 edition, it is the other way around: among appears as a variant of amongst.
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So, better use among.
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I think so. I'm a native English speaker and have almost never heard anyone say "amongst" (unless the person was trying to sound like someone speaking in an earlier time). On the other hand, "among" is very common.

I'm in the western US, though, and it may be different in other English-speaking places.
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how about our british friends... anyone ?
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For some reason, I say 'amongst other things' but I am 55 and English so it may be a combination of generational difference in education and nationality.
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