Remember the mouse and the box? Some teacher used it to illustrate prepositions, showing what the mouse could do -- he could go in the box, or on the box, or before the box, or over the box, or around the box, and a whole bunch more.
The mouse can also be between two boxes. What the mouse cannot do is be between three or four boxes. It is not possible. He can be among three or four or more boxes, but not between them. He can only be between two things.
And yet at least 10 times a day I hear people saying that someone will divide something between four people, is standing between three trees, or is having to decide between five things. Can't be done. The word to use is among.
I know that languages evolve constantly and that changes are inevitable. I'm just trying to hold off the worst of it as long as I can.
Huh. That's a keeper.
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