among the lines

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "among the lines" is not correct in standard English; the correct expression is "between the lines." You can use it when referring to the implied or hidden meaning in a text or conversation.
Example: "If you read between the lines of her message, you can see that she is not happy with the decision."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Clowns meander in and out among the lines.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Among the lines for which Steiner provides employees are Carnival, Celebrity, Crystal, Cunard, Holland America, Norwegian, Princess, Radisson Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn, Silversea and Windstar.

The New York Times - Travel

Among the lines of runners, bikers and the odd skater, Mr. Gloubenko was the only photographer on the bridge that night.

The New York Times - Arts

Among the lines with more frequent trains would be the Nos. 4 and 6 on the Lexington Avenue line, and the E and F lines.

The New York Times

A line conceives of people as citizens, presumed equal, each with an identical 24 hours a day to spread among the lines around them.

The New York Times

Ellipses and circles tumble about among the lines, intimating fractured features and calling attention to the nominal masklike faces of early Picasso and Matisse, Jawlensky and Brancusi.

The New York Times - Arts

Among the lines that stood out were the ones in which Maggie's demonically grinning brother hands out nickels and dimes, then "fines you every time you slam the door".

The New York Times - Arts

Among the lines that Louis-Dreyfus later improvised in "Veep" is a moment, in the pilot, when she calls out to a guest at a fund-raiser, "I see you.

The New Yorker

In addition, DIN/DON was similar among the lines.

Progress in Earth and Planetary Science

In Figure 12, a blue dotted line has the most errors among the lines and a red dotted line has the least errors among the lines.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Plant height and the proportion of fully matured grains showed no significant difference among the lines.

Rice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to convey a hidden or implied meaning, always use the idiom "between the lines" instead of "among the lines".

Common error

Avoid using "among" when referring to an implied meaning. "Among" is used when distributing something to multiple entities, whereas "between" is appropriate when interpreting something not explicitly stated.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "among the lines" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase. Ludwig's analysis, however, identifies this usage as incorrect in standard English. Its common usage often deviates from strict grammatical rules.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "among the lines" appears frequently across a variety of sources, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English when referring to implied meaning. Ludwig suggests that the correct idiom is "between the lines" in those cases. Usage contexts span science, news, and encyclopedias, but despite its common occurrence, writers should opt for the grammatically sound alternative, "between the lines", to ensure clarity and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

between the lines

This alternative is the grammatically correct and commonly accepted idiom for implying hidden meaning.

in the rows

This alternative refers to physical positioning within rows or lines of objects or people.

within the ranks

This alternative indicates being positioned inside an organized group or formation.

through the ranks

This alternative refers to movement or progression within a hierarchical structure.

in the queues

This refers to being physically present in a line of people waiting.

amidst the queues

Similar to 'in the queues', emphasizing being surrounded by waiting lines.

within the bounds

This focuses on staying inside defined limits or parameters.

within the confines

This implies being enclosed or restricted by specific boundaries.

within the boundaries

Similar to 'within the bounds', referring to defined limits.

in the file

This suggests being part of a data file or an organized document.

FAQs

What's the correct way to express an implied meaning: "among the lines" or "between the lines"?

The correct idiom is "between the lines". It refers to understanding the hidden or non-explicit meaning in a text or conversation. "Among the lines" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in this context.

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

"Between" is typically used when referring to two or more distinct items or entities. "Among" is used when referring to items that are part of a group. For instance, distribute something between two people, but share something among a group of people.

Is "among the lines" ever correct?

While not standard usage for implied meanings, "among the lines" could potentially be correct if referring to a physical distribution or arrangement of something across actual lines, though this is rare. In general, avoid using "among the lines".

What does it mean to "read between the lines"?

To "read between the lines" means to understand the implicit or unstated meaning of something. It involves inferring what is not openly expressed.