Between or among

Between or among

Between is generally used for two things while among is for more than two. When only two units are specified and the relationship is distinctly one-to-one, between should be used.

E.g.

This contract is between the athlete and his coach.

Or, Mother distributed the chocolate-chip cookies between Rajiv and his brother.

On the other hand, when more than two units are involved or when the number of units is unspecified E.g. in a group or collection, among should be used.

E.g.

There seems to be an agreement among the Directors in the organisation.

Or, Mother distributed the chocolate-chip cookies among her children.

Test your understanding - Choose the correct sentence from the pair of sentences given below

1.
a. There is some sort of harmony among the team after the argument.
b. There is some sort of harmony between the team after the argument.

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2.
a. I told my friend that we could take the cab and share the fare among us.
b. I told my friend that we could take the cab and share the fare between us.

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3.
a. All the ministers were concerned about the rising prices and were in a discussion among themselves.
b.All the ministers were concerned about the rising prices and were in a discussion between themselves.

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4.
a. The police were requesting the two disputing parties to settle the problem between themselves.
b.The police were requesting the two disputing parties to settle the problem among themselves.

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5.
a. It seems that there was a hot exchange of words among the correspondent and the Minister.
b. It seems that there was a hot exchange of words between the correspondent and the Minister.

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