'There is no demonstrable difference of sense or function between the two, and the distribution is puzzling except that amongst seems to be somewhat less common in AmE than in BrE.' (The New Fowler's Modern English Usage, 1996)What is the difference, if any, between among and amongst? When do you use which one?
There is no difference except that amongst sounds more formal and old fashioned. I'd probably use it if I was writing a historical or if my character was extremely pompous.
Whilst and amongst are both used widely in US regional speech and writing. The real difference is simply aesthetics and regionalism. The correct choice, then, is whichever sounds best to your ear.
REPRESENT. American here and I use amongst/whilst, theatre, and grey. Gray is such an ugly word. Grey is lovely.I use it in speech regularly. I'm in Massachusetts, south of Boston. Typically I use amongst in a past tense, for example 'I was amongst friends', while I would say 'I am among friends'.
I think this is a regional usage, and there are quite a few other words in my normal speech patterns that my spouse finds unusual. I don't notice them until pointed out, as they sound normal to me.
I will also note that many UK or Canadian spellings look normal to me. For example, honour, theatre, and grey (to me grey and gray are two different colors).
If you use amongst, whilst, grey, colour ... and you're not from the UK or the Commonwealth ... then you're an anglophile because those are not the norm in the US.
Okay, old North Carolina, Massachusetts, and pandaponies, who likes some of the same books I do, but doesn't give a location. Hmm.
I know what you all mean about "grey," which is the color of cats, while "gray" is the color of battleships. But I still correct "grey," because it's not really right in the US.
But don't get me started on "theatre," which is just plain right in the UK and Canada, but just plain pretentious in the US. Reminds me of the places that add an "e" and think it looks somehow richer or fancier. (There's a nursing home near us called Grande Pointe. Argh. Shall we go to Burgere Kinge, darling?)
I use it in speech regularly. I'm in Massachusetts, south of Boston. Typically I use amongst in a past tense, for example 'I was amongst friends', while I would say 'I am among friends'.
I think this is a regional usage, and there are quite a few other words in my normal speech patterns that my spouse finds unusual. I don't notice them until pointed out, as they sound normal to me.
I will also note that many UK or Canadian spellings look normal to me. For example, honour, theatre, and grey (to me grey and gray are two different colors).
Just because it is not the norm in your area does not make it true for the entire country. An anglophile is an intentional altering of the norm in imitation of the UK. Where I live, many of these spellings, not all mind you, are the norm. Colour is wrong to me. Honour is correct. Much of this, to me, relates to how the words are pronounced here, and also how they are used. For example, I would go to a movie theater, but the Wang Center is in the Theatre District.
I also don't find these usages pretentious. That would imply only a few people use them. When everyone you know uses those words or spellings in everyday speech, I hardly think of that as putting on airs.
I'm south of Boston, too, and very old. I have never heard 'amongst' being used in ordinary speech.
Though the closer one gets to Rhode Island....