Amid vs. Among — What's the Difference?

Amid and Among are both prepositions that describe a relationship or position with respect to a group or a setting. Amid often suggests being in the midst or surrounded by something, typically when there's no distinct group of individual items. For instance, "The house stands amid apple orchards." In contrast, Among implies being part of a larger group or in the company of several entities. "He was popular among his peers."

In another dimension, Amid is often used in the context of non-countable or abstract things. For example, "amid confusion" or "amid the noise." Among, however, is frequently utilized when referring to being in the company or presence of multiple, distinguishable entities. "The secret was shared among friends."

Amid might give an impression of a solitary entity being surrounded by something vast or expansive. This could be an emotional state, a physical situation, or even a temporal event, like "amid a crisis." On the other hand, Among creates an imagery of one being a part of a group, sharing or mingling with several others. "She felt out of place among the scholars."

Furthermore, Amid often carries a more poetic or formal tone in various contexts. Literature and news reports might use "amid" to portray a certain atmosphere or mood. Meanwhile, Among has a more everyday, conversational tone, apt for both formal and casual settings. "He found an ally among his coworkers."

Lastly, both Amid and Among can denote placement, but their usage can depend on the nature of the surrounding elements. A singular entity might stand amid vast fields, but that same entity could be hidden among trees.