Cool MateAmongst other things vs Besides vs Including
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Amongst other things
Besides
Including
| Amongst other things | Besides | Including | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //əˈmʌŋst ˈʌðə θɪŋz//🇺🇸 //əˈmʌŋst ˈʌðər θɪŋz// | 🇬🇧 /["/bɪˈsaɪdz/"]/🇺🇸 /["/bɪˈsaɪdz/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈkluːdɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈkluːdɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | In addition to other items or points | Also; in addition to. | to have something as a part of a group or list |
| Example | He mentioned, amongst other things, the need for better infrastructure. | We have lots of things in common besides music. | I've got three days' holiday including New Year's Day. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 | A2 |
| Part of speech | preposition | preposition | |
| Collocations | mentioned amongst other things, includes amongst other things, discussed amongst other things | besides the point, besides this, besides being | including all, including this, including others, including details, including examples |
| Antonyms | - | excluding, without | excluding, omitting |
| Common mistakes | Misused as 'among other things' without 'st' in formal contexts., Confused with similar phrases like 'among other reasons'., Omitted necessary commas when used in longer sentences. | Using 'besides' when 'beside' (next to) is meant., Confusing 'besides' with 'beside'., Incorrectly using 'besides' with a negative statement. | Using 'including' without an item after (e.g., 'We have fruits, including' is incorrect)., Confusing 'including' with 'including but not limited to' in informal contexts, leading to unnecessary complexity., Misplacing the word in a sentence, making the meaning unclear. |
| Usage notes | Use in formal writing or spoken contexts to introduce a list or examples. Avoid in very casual conversations. | Use 'besides' to introduce additional information. It fits informal and formal contexts but is slightly more common in spoken English. Avoid using it at the beginning of a formal document. | Use 'including' when you want to give examples of items or people that are part of a larger group. It is suitable for both spoken and written contexts but avoid using it in overly formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Amongst other things vs Besides vs Including
What's the difference between Amongst other things, Besides, and Including?
Amongst other things: In addition to other items or points Besides: Also; in addition to. Including: to have something as a part of a group or list
Which is more common: Amongst other things, Besides, and Including?
Including is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Amongst other things, Besides, and Including?
Besides is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Amongst other things: He mentioned, amongst other things, the need for better infrastructure. Besides: We have lots of things in common besides music. Including: I've got three days' holiday including New Year's Day.
Can I use Amongst other things, Besides, and Including interchangeably?
Not always. Amongst other things, Besides, and Including are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.