between

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "between" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate a position or relationship involving two or more entities or points in space, time, or thought. Example: "The negotiations took place between the two companies over several weeks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

In between, you run.

The Guardian - Sport

Everything in between, you really know nothing".

The New York Times

Anything in between, you're second-rate".

The New Yorker

So yeah, Infound God in the desert and he is kind of a creep.

Vice

What happened in between, you might ask?

Huffington Post

Between them you can feel it".

Independent

Between innings, you were more time-conscious".

The New York Times - Sports

(Spring 2015) "In this process, you form connections between what you already know and new ideas".

International Journal of STEM Education

Form connections between what you see.

WikiHow

It's between you and God".

The New Yorker

"That's between you and her".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "between" to clearly indicate a relationship, position, or connection involving two or more distinct entities or points. Ensure the context provides clarity regarding what is being related.

Common error

Avoid using "between" when referring to relationships involving more than two entities unless each entity is being considered in relation to each other individually. Use "among" when referring to non-distinct groups.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "between" is as a preposition, indicating a relationship, position, or connection involving two or more entities. As Ludwig AI indicates, "between" is correct and usable in written English. Examples from Ludwig show it defining relationships, like "What happened between you and John Lennon?"

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Science

15%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "between" functions as a preposition to indicate relationships, positions, or connections involving two or more entities. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely applicable. While versatile, differentiating its use from "among" (for three or more non-distinct entities) is crucial. Highly frequent across news, academic, and business contexts, "between" is a fundamental word for clear and precise communication, emphasizing the connections

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

among

Indicates a relationship involving three or more entities, whereas "between" often implies two.

in the middle of

Suggests a position within a larger group or space, differing from the relational aspect of "between".

connecting

Focuses on the act of linking two or more things, rather than the space or relationship they share.

linking

Similar to "connecting", but emphasizes the act of creating a link.

separating

Highlights the division or distinction, offering an opposite perspective to "between"'s connecting nature.

midway

Indicates a point or position at an equal distance from two extremes, similar to a spatial use of "between".

intersecting

Emphasizes the point where two things meet or cross, showing a specific type of relationship.

spanning

Implies covering or extending across a distance or time, related to "between"'s indication of range.

intermediate

Highlights an element that exists in the middle of a range of values or qualities.

dividing

Focuses on the act of creating separation, opposite to the connective implication of "between".

FAQs

How do I use "between" in a sentence?

"Between" is used to show a relationship between two or more things, for example, "The negotiation took place between the two companies" or "There is a strong connection between these ideas".

What is the difference between "between" and "among"?

"Between" is typically used when referring to two distinct items or groups, while "among" is used when referring to three or more items that are not necessarily distinct or individually specified.

When should I use "between" instead of "in the middle of"?

Use "between" to show a relationship or connection between two separate entities. Use "in the middle of" to indicate a location within a space or group.

Can "between" be used for more than two items?

Yes, "between" can be used for more than two items, especially when each item is being compared or related to each other individually, such as in network analysis or pairwise comparisons.