一般的語法書都說，between表示兩者之間的關係，among表示三者或三者以上相同事物之間的關係。其實，在現代英語裏，說得確實些，between亦可用以指三個或三個以上事物之間的關係，特別是為了強調關係緊密的場合。例：
The ratio between industry and agriculture is the most fual iional ey.
工業和農業之間的比例關係，是國民經濟中最基本的關係。
There are stant flicts between employers,workers and trade union officials.
老板、工人和工會頭子之間經常發生衝突。
The killer is hiding among the bushes.
殺人者現在藏身於叢林中。
The money was divided equally among his brothers and sisters.
這筆錢已在他們兄弟姐妹之間平分了。
between用以指三者或三者以上的場合至少已可追溯到半個多世紀以前了。我們在Wyld編寫的Universal English Diary（1932年初版）中已可找到這樣的例句：
The money was divided equally between the crew.
又例如：
We have to distinguish carefully between the five us of the subjunctive.
英國的Oxford English Diary對between和among的用法寫得好：“Between”has been from its earliest appearaeo more than two…. It is still the only word available to express the relation of a thing to many surrounding things verally and individually; "among" expressing a relation to them collectively（as a group)and vaguely.