amongst the two

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "amongst the two" is not correct in standard English; "among" is typically used for three or more items, while "between" is used for two.
You can use "between" when referring to two distinct items or individuals. Example: "The decision was made between the two candidates."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Our findings indicate that amongst the two thirds of GBV-exposed women who have not experienced one of the designated mental disturbances prior to the abuse, a substantial portion manifested at least one of these problems within one and five years following initial exposure to abuse.

BMC Psychiatry

Amongst the two sonication processes, probe sonication process produced well stabilized small sized particles.

European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics

It is observed that amongst the two RANS models, RSM performed better than standard k ε except at the centerline of the canyon walls.

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

Amongst the two or more systems that may be geometrically favored, the activated slip system depends on the structure of the nucleation site.

Acta Materialia

Regarding biomarkers, the different profiles of the steranes, diasteranes and triaromatic steroids allowed for a simple differentiation amongst the two products.

Water Research

In addition to quantitative analysis, responses were mapped with DebateGraph for inductive analysis to discern patterns amongst the two groups and to explore a series of questions related to motivations.

Land Use Policy

Amongst the two constructs, pAKEnt showed relatively higher increase in growth response as compared to pAKFpvA, which could be attributed to higher affinity of enterobactin for Fe3+ (K = 1052 M−1) as compared to pyoverdine (K = 1032 M−1032

Applied Soil Ecology

The coaching staff, realising that nine-man training sessions probably weren't great preparation for a World Cup qualifier, started picking more players from the West Bank, breeding resentment amongst the two groups of players and effectively creating two different national teams.

The Guardian - Sport

Amongst the two layered perovskites, double layered Sr3Ti2O7 displays higher activity compared to triple layered Sr4Ti3O10 since the conduction band minimum of Sr3Ti2O7 is at higher negative energy level vis-à-vis that for Sr4Ti3O10 and the inter layer spacing is appropriate for CO2 reduction and splitting of water as well.

Catalysis Today

Hence, WE43 alloy coated with HAp by two different coating processes proves to have slower degradation rate in comparison with uncoated substrate and amongst the two coating processes PLD can be employed to develop successful coatings for application of Mg alloys in the field of orthopedics.

Surface and Coatings Technology

It's not really even a war amongst the two formats.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "between" when referring to only two items or options. This ensures grammatical correctness and clarity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "amongst" when you are only referring to two items. While "amongst" is often used interchangeably with "among", neither is appropriate for comparisons involving only two options. "Between" is the correct choice in these situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "amongst the two" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically used to indicate a relationship or comparison between two entities. However, as noted by Ludwig AI, the correct preposition for two items is "between", making the phrase grammatically questionable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "amongst the two" appears frequently across various sources, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI highlights that the correct preposition when referring to two items is "between", making "between the two" the preferred choice. Although common, especially in science and news media, using "amongst the two" detracts from clarity and grammatical precision. Therefore, it is best to opt for grammatically sound alternatives to maintain the integrity of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

between the two

Replaces "amongst" with "between", the correct preposition for two items, maintaining the original meaning.

of the two

Offers a more concise way to indicate selection or comparison when the context already implies two options.

in relation to the two

Provides a more formal and explicit way to refer to two items being compared or discussed.

when comparing the two

Focuses on the act of comparing, explicitly stating that two items are under consideration.

when distinguishing the two

Emphasizes the act of differentiating between the two options, useful in analytical contexts.

considering both

Highlights the act of taking both options into account, suitable when evaluating or choosing.

in contrast to the two

Highlights the differences between the two, suitable for emphasizing opposing qualities or outcomes.

regarding the pair

Uses "pair" to emphasize the two items as a set, shifting the focus slightly to their combined existence.

concerning the duo

Similar to "regarding the pair", but uses "duo" for a more informal or creative tone.

as regards the two

A more formal and less common way to introduce a discussion or comparison of two items.

FAQs

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

"Between" is used when referring to two distinct items or people, while "among" is used when referring to three or more items. Therefore, the correct alternative to "amongst the two" is "between the two".

Is "amongst the two" grammatically correct?

No, "amongst the two" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct preposition to use when referring to two items is "between". You should say "between the two" instead.

What are some alternatives to "amongst the two" that I can use in my writing?

Besides "between the two", you can also use phrases like "of the two" or "in relation to the two depending on the context".

How can I remember the difference between "among" and "between"?

Think of "between" as referring to two distinct and separate entities, and "among" as referring to a group or collection of three or more. Therefore, always choose "between the two".