among a serial

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "among a serial" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is unclear what context you are trying to express, as "among" typically refers to being in the midst of multiple items or people, while "a serial" does not fit well in this structure. Example: "The characters in the story are among a serial of intriguing plots."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"Violence at Noon" (1966), about a triangle that forms among a serial rapist and two women who protect him, was based on an actual case, as was "Boy" (1969), about a family whose son is forced to fake traffic injuries in an extortion scheme.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Two search tasks were used: a parallel (+ among Ls) and a serial one (T among Ls).

Plosone

All of which are mysteries far more compelling than the one presented in CBS' new there's-a-serial-killer-among-us series of the same title.

Los Angeles Times

CD95 was, in fact, previously identified as a candidate stem cell marker (along with well-established stem cell markers such as Lin28, Oct4, Nanog, and Sox2, among others) in a serial analysis of gene expression profiling of human embryonic stem cells.

Cell Death and Differentiation

He uses them to, among other things, identify a serial killer, but his heroics can't erase his overwhelming melancholy, much of it stemming from the fact that his old girlfriend, heartbreakingly played by Brooke Adams, has married someone else during his hospitalization.

The New York Times

No one slept since I think we were all looking at each other making sure there wasn't a serial killer among us.

The New York Times

The deal is among the biggest that Berkshire, a serial acquirer whose holdings include the railroad Burlington Northern Santa Fe and the business jet fleet operator NetJets, has ever done.

The New York Times

It should be noted that we need to be careful about a serial correlation among the estimated efficiencies pointed out by Simar and Wilson (2007).

Journal of Economic Structures

Chillicothe, located roughly 50 miles south of Columbus, is where several women have disappeared or turned up dead, sparking fears among family and friends that a serial killer or sex traffickers are on the loose.

Huffington Post

Edwards is a biomedical engineer by training and a serial inventor by trade; among his creations are Le Whif, a delivery system for inhalable chocolate, and WikiPearl, a form of edible packaging for frozen yogurt and other foods.

The New Yorker

In "While the City Sleeps," the hunt for a serial killer sparks competition among the various editors of a New York media conglomerate, including an award-winning writer and television commentator (Dana Andrews), who goes straight to the source, addressing the unknown murderer on the air and even using his own fiancée (Sally Forrest) as bait.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "among a serial". Instead, consider using phrases like "within a series" or "in a sequence" to clearly express relationships within an ordered set of items or events.

Common error

A common mistake is to misuse "among" with singular or non-plural countable nouns. "Among" requires multiple entities. When referring to a sequence, clarify the relationship using "within" or "in".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "among a serial" functions as a prepositional phrase attempting to describe a relationship. However, it is grammatically unsound as "among" requires a plural or collective referent, while "a serial" is singular. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase lacks clear meaning.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "among a serial" is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates that the word "among" requires a plural or collective noun, which "a serial" does not satisfy. While the phrase appears in some sources, primarily in News & Media and Scientific contexts, this doesn't validate its usage. Instead, consider using alternatives such as "within a series" or "in a sequence" to accurately convey the intended meaning. These alternatives offer clarity and grammatical correctness, making them more appropriate for various writing contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

within a series

Focuses on containment or location inside a sequence.

in a succession

Highlights the sequential nature of the elements.

across a sequence

Emphasizes traversing or spanning a series of items.

through a chain

Implies a linked or connected sequence.

in a string of

Highlights a linear arrangement or connection.

amidst a sequence

Similar to "within", but suggests a more general surrounding context.

among sequential

This alternative replaces 'a serial' with the more grammatically sound 'sequential'.

within serial

It is a bit closer to the query, but it changes the structure slightly, omitting the 'a'.

across successive

It's similar to 'across a sequence', but using 'successive' emphasizes the continuous nature.

through consecutive

This version emphasizes the unbroken order of the sequence.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "among" in a sentence?

"Among" is used to indicate that something is surrounded by or in the company of multiple things or people. For example, "She felt safe among her friends".

What is a better alternative to "among a serial"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "within a series", "in a succession", or "across a sequence".

Is "among a serial" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "among a serial" is not grammatically correct. "Among" suggests a relationship with multiple items, while "a serial" refers to a single entity. The phrase doesn't logically connect.

When should I use "among" versus "between"?

"Among" is used when referring to three or more items, while "between" is typically used for two items. For example, "The decision was difficult among the team members" (more than two) versus "The decision was difficult between John and Mary" (two).