Welcome to the Grammar Minute, where we’re saving the English language sixty seconds at a time! I’m Lauren Smyth, and what’s the difference between “between” and “among?”
Some people think that “between” is only for two things, and “among” is for many things. For example, “what’s the difference between coffee and espresso?” but “what’s the difference among coffee, espresso, and matcha?” But actually, that latter question is wrong. “Between” can be used for more than two things and should be used when the named things are specific, concrete, distinct items. “Among,” on the other hand, is typically used for homogenous groups and not for options. So, you find yourself among friends in a coffee shop, and they help you choose between coffee, espresso, and matcha.
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