ShmoopTube

Where Monty Python meets your 10th grade teacher.

Search Thousands of Shmoop Videos


Playlist Common Grammar Mistakes 30 videos

0
Dangling Modifiers
2642 Views

This video explains what dangling modifiers are and, more importantly, how to avoid them. It provides a useful formula for using a modifying phrase...

1
Different From vs. Different Than
2854 Views

Want even more deets on Different From vs. Different Than? Click here to review. Or take a look at our entire grammar section for all the goods.

2
Either/Or, Neither/Nor, and Both/And
1283 Views

This video covers how to use either/or, neither/nor, and both/and. How do these word pairs change the meaning of a sentence? Do we use singular or...

See All

Between vs. Among 908 Views


Share It!


Description:

Between watching this video and not watching this video, we'd recommend watching this video. Among all other choices you could make, we'd recommend ice cream...while watching this video.

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:04

Between versus Among, a la Shmoop. Prom looms on the horizon. Do you choose between

00:10

Zac and Max...

00:11

...or attend the dance among your friends?

00:15

What is the rule for “between” versus “among”, anyway?

00:18

Basically, use “between” when you're writing about two things...

00:21

...and “among” when you're writing about more than two things.

00:25

Easy, right? Or at least easier than choosing between dreamy Zac and adorable Max.

00:31

Let's look at some examples.

00:33

In Pride and Prejudice, Lizzie Bennet has to choose between continuing to hate Fitzwilliam

00:39

Darcy...

00:39

...and loving Fitzwilliam Darcy. Hey, we never said it was a difficult choice.

00:44

Darcy has loads of money and social connections. He could have any girl among the ranks of

00:48

England's aristocrats.

00:50

But he picks Lizzie. Again, not a tough decision. Of course, there's an exception to this rule.

00:55

You can use the word “between” when talking about more than two things, so long as they

01:00

are individual and distinct. For example, you could say, “Jill sat between

01:04

her mom, her dad, and her sister”.

01:07

If you want to use “among” instead of “between”, you would say, “Jill sat

01:11

among her family”. And that's the rule...

01:13

...use “between” when you're writing about two things...

01:15

...and “among” when you're writing about more than two things.

01:17

Oh, and for those of you wondering if you can use “amongst” instead of “among”...

01:21

...remember that this is America, and we say “among” on this side of the pond.

Related Videos

Affect vs. Effect
10818 Views

This video explains the difference between affect and effect and provide tips for remembering which is which and when to use each one. If you suffe...

Your vs. You're
4158 Views

Want even more deets on Your vs. You're? Click here to review. Or take a look at our entire grammar section for all the goods.

Its vs. It's
5830 Views

What’s the difference between its and it’s (spoiler alert: it’s more than just an apostrophe). This video covers the use of both of these wor...

Question Marks
3733 Views

Want even more deets on Question Marks? Click here to review. Or take a look at our entire grammar section for all the goods.

Long vs. Short Sentences
2882 Views

Want even more deets on grammar? Click here for all the goods.