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Pao3 Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
Preposition Amid X Among
I know this is rather futile problem yet I felt like I wouldn't sleep until I know the answer. Ere posting here I, of course, searched web and took a good look at all kinds of dictionaries (which are available for me). Needless to say that there wasn't any consensus among(?) them.
I give you three most common opinions that I know of:
1. Among and Amid are synonyms, there is no difference in using
2. Amid is only used when it is a "static" action and can't be used with dynamic words (such as go, swim run...)
3. The difference between Amid and Among lies in whether objects are distinguishable or not. If not then there is Amid otherwise there is Among...
I thank you in advance and I am looking forward to hearing from you.
PS: If none of these opinions is correct feel free to post your own, but, please, explain it to me.
I give you three most common opinions that I know of:
1. Among and Amid are synonyms, there is no difference in using
2. Amid is only used when it is a "static" action and can't be used with dynamic words (such as go, swim run...)
3. The difference between Amid and Among lies in whether objects are distinguishable or not. If not then there is Amid otherwise there is Among...
I thank you in advance and I am looking forward to hearing from you.
PS: If none of these opinions is correct feel free to post your own, but, please, explain it to me.
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8 Answers
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They are synonyms only in the meaning 1b:
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amid
1 a : in or into the middle of <burst like a bombshell amidst the contemporary complacency -- Isaac Goldberg> <amid such a world, if anywhere, our ideals henceforth must find a home -- Bertrand Russell> b : surrounded or encompassed by :
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amid
1 a : in or into the middle of <burst like a bombshell amidst the contemporary complacency -- Isaac Goldberg> <amid such a world, if anywhere, our ideals henceforth must find a home -- Bertrand Russell> b : surrounded or encompassed by :
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wow. I mean I didn't even know about 2a/b meaning^^
Thank you for your respond. Do you think you could care to explain it a bit more? Especially the part that means something like "between". Like this sentence for instance:
"They walked among the deckchairs..." (other sentences: "I saw a few familiar faces among the crowd." "Talk about it among yourselves." "Rescue teams searched amo
Thank you for your respond. Do you think you could care to explain it a bit more? Especially the part that means something like "between". Like this sentence for instance:
"They walked among the deckchairs..." (other sentences: "I saw a few familiar faces among the crowd." "Talk about it among yourselves." "Rescue teams searched amo
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More:
http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/22/messages/873.html
see the last 2 paras
http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/22/messages/873.html
see the last 2 paras
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Thank you again, it was most helpful.
So for every sentence I can use both AMID as well as AMONG depending on if I want to highlight collectivity or individuality...
Let me ask one, hopefully, last question relating to this problem... As I said that I had searched, I really had and I found this:
He was sinking amid the waves. He perserved amidst many difficulties.
A
So for every sentence I can use both AMID as well as AMONG depending on if I want to highlight collectivity or individuality...
Let me ask one, hopefully, last question relating to this problem... As I said that I had searched, I really had and I found this:
He was sinking amid the waves. He perserved amidst many difficulties.
A
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Pao3wow. I mean I didn't even know about 2a/b meaning^^ Thank you for your response. Do you think you couldcare toexplain it a bit more? Especially the part that means something like "between". Like this sentence for instance: (1)"They walked among the deckchairs..." (o
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And I naively thought I was begining to understand it^^ So, what you said defines that you consider AMID to represent just 'in the middle of'.
You are saying that "I saw a few familiar faces among the crowd" cannot be replaced with amid, but in merriam-webster dictionary there is this: "amid the crowd"
btw. thanks for letting me see where I did mistakes
You are saying that "I saw a few familiar faces among the crowd" cannot be replaced with amid, but in merriam-webster dictionary there is this: "amid the crowd"
btw. thanks for letting me see where I did mistakes
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Anyway, amid is rare these days ... use among or in or between
Should you have many similar questions, buy Garner, Modern American Usage.
Should you have many similar questions, buy Garner, Modern American Usage.
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Modern American Usage, I'm very grateful, I keep this in mind, I hope I'll manage to obtain it.
Let's consider this question to be answered.
I would like to thank you, all of you, for being patient with me. If you should happen to be in need of czech grammar, be sure to contact me. I would be more than happy to help you:-D
Let's consider this question to be answered.
I would like to thank you, all of you, for being patient with me. If you should happen to be in need of czech grammar, be sure to contact me. I would be more than happy to help you:-D
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