It becomes quite confusing when you have to choose between two words looking exactly the same. ‘Amid’ and ‘Amidst’ are two such words. Here is an example of the proper use of these words:
- The little boy felt nervous amidst so many people
The little boy felt nervous amid so many people - The hotel is situated amid a concrete jungle
The hotel is situated amidst a concrete jungle
They might have a similar meaning and might be one and the same thing, but there is a difference. Let’s look at their meanings individually.
How and When to use Amid
Amid means being in the middle or being surrounded by something. Here are some examples of the word ‘amid’:
- Amid a school of sardines, only a few were eaten by the shark
- The Maldives is a country situated amid the Indian Ocean.
- The doctors are serving their countries amid this pandemic situation
How and When to use Amidst
In a way, the word ‘amidst’ is a variant of the word ‘amid’. Both of them have the same meaning. Here are some examples of the word ‘amidst’:
- Amidst all the adversities, he worked his way up to become the best scientist in the world
- There is a park amidst the office and the school
- Crocodiles have survived and evolved amidst all mass extinctions
Conclusion
Amid and amidst are similar words. Amidst is a form of the word amid. You can substitute one of them in almost all sentences where one of them is used. Amid is more commonly used among all English dialects. But it also depends on the preference of the speaker. Moreover, some prefer both words. Amid and amidst cannot be exactly called synonyms, but in a way, these two words can be closely considered as synonyms. So, this was the user guide of these words. We hope this helps.
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