The phrase “among others” is a common English expression used when mentioning some people or things from a larger group without listing every member of that group.
For example, if you say, “The event was attended by teachers, writers, and journalists, among others,” you mean that teachers, writers, and journalists attended, but they were not the only people there.
Although “among others” looks simple, English learners sometimes wonder exactly what it means, where to place it in a sentence, and whether it can refer to things as well as people.
The phrase is especially common in formal writing, news articles, academic texts, business communication, and everyday conversation. In this guide, you will learn the meaning of “among others,” how to use it naturally, its alternatives, common mistakes, and the difference between “among others” and similar expressions.
Quick Answer
“Among others” means “including other people or things not specifically mentioned.” It is used after naming some members of a larger group. For example, “She speaks French and Spanish, among others” means she speaks French, Spanish, and additional languages.
Why People Confuse It
People sometimes misunderstand “among others” because it does not clearly identify who or what the other members are.
Consider:
The conference attracted doctors, researchers, and professors, among others.
The phrase “among others” tells us that doctors, researchers, and professors were present, but there were additional groups of people as well.
It is essentially a shortened way of saying:
Doctors, researchers, professors, and other people were there.
Another point of confusion is whether “among others” can refer to things.
Yes, it can.
For example:
The company sells phones, tablets, laptops, and other devices, among others.
However, when referring to things, “among other things” is often more natural.
For example:
She enjoys reading, traveling, and cooking, among other things.
First Word: “Among”
Among is a preposition used when talking about someone or something within a group.
For example:
She was sitting among her friends.
The house was hidden among the trees.
He was among the best students in his class.
The word suggests that something or someone is part of a larger group or surrounded by other members.
In “among others,” the word among indicates that the things already mentioned belong to a larger group.
Second Word: “Others”
Others means additional people or things that are different from those already mentioned.
For example:
Some students stayed late, while others went home.
Here, others means other students.
In “among others,” the word others refers to additional people or things that have not been specifically named.
For example:
The meeting included managers, directors, and consultants, among others.
The phrase means that managers, directors, and consultants were included, along with additional people.
Comparison Table
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Among others | Including additional people or things | She met writers, actors, and musicians, among others. |
| Among other things | Including additional things or activities | He enjoys reading and traveling, among other things. |
| And others | Additional people or things | Several experts attended, including doctors and engineers, and others. |
| Others | Additional people or things | Some agreed, while others disagreed. |
| Etc. | And other similar things | We bought books, pens, notebooks, etc. |
| Including | Shows that something is part of a group | The course covers several subjects, including grammar. |
| Such as | Introduces examples | We study languages such as English and French. |
When to Use Each
Use “among others” for people
The phrase is especially natural when referring to people.
The guests included actors, directors, and producers, among others.
This means other guests were present as well.
Use “among others” for things when appropriate
It can sometimes refer to things.
The store sells furniture, electronics, and clothing, among others.
However, among other things is generally more natural when discussing activities, subjects, or miscellaneous things.
Use “among other things” for activities
She enjoys painting, reading, and gardening, among other things.
This means those are some of the things she enjoys, but they are not the only ones.
Use “including” when you want to be especially clear
The group includes teachers, doctors, and lawyers.
Including directly tells the reader that the named examples are part of a larger group.
Use “such as” to introduce examples
We study subjects such as history, science, and mathematics.
This focuses on examples rather than suggesting that the list is complete.
Examples
Here are more than ten natural examples using “among others.”
- The conference was attended by doctors, lawyers, and researchers, among others.
- She has worked with several famous writers, among others.
- The team includes engineers, designers, and programmers, among others.
- He has visited France, Italy, and Germany, among others.
- Several celebrities, among others, attended the event.
- The book discusses Shakespeare, Milton, and Chaucer, among others.
- The company produces computers, smartphones, and tablets, among others.
- The award was presented to scientists, educators, and journalists, among others.
- Many countries, including Canada and Australia, among others, participated in the program.
- The committee consists of teachers, administrators, and parents, among others.
- She has studied several languages, including Spanish and Italian, among others.
- The museum displays paintings by Picasso, Monet, and Van Gogh, among others.
- The project involves architects, engineers, and environmental specialists, among others.
- Several factors, including cost and availability, among others, influenced the decision.
- The company works with restaurants, hotels, and retailers, among others.
A natural conversational example
I enjoy sports like tennis and basketball, among others.
This means tennis and basketball are two examples of sports you enjoy, but they are not the only ones.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Thinking “among others” means “between others”
It does not.
Among means within or surrounded by a group.
She was among her colleagues.
Among others means along with additional people or things.
She met several artists, among others.
Mistake 2: Using “among other” without a noun
Usually, the correct phrase is:
among others
or:
among other things
For example:
He studies history, science, and literature, among others.
If you use other as an adjective, it normally needs a noun:
among other subjects
among other people
among other reasons
Mistake 3: Confusing “among others” with “among other things”
These expressions are related but not identical.
Among others can refer to additional people or things depending on context.
Among other things specifically emphasizes additional things, activities, facts, or matters.
She met several politicians, among others.
She enjoys reading and traveling, among other things.
Mistake 4: Using it when the list is complete
If you have listed every member of a group, “among others” is unnecessary.
For example:
The three speakers were John, Sarah, and Michael.
If those are the only speakers, do not add “among others.”
Mistake 5: Making the sentence unnecessarily vague
Although “among others” is useful, it should not be used simply to avoid providing important information.
Instead of:
Several important people attended, among others.
Be specific when the identity of the people matters.
Clear writing gives the reader enough information to understand the point.
Memory Trick
Think of “among others” as:
“These are some examples, but there are more.”
For example:
John, Sarah, and Mike attended, among others.
Think:
John + Sarah + Mike + other people
That is the basic meaning.
For “among other things,” remember:
“These are some things, but there are more.”
She enjoys reading, cooking, and traveling, among other things.
Think:
Reading + cooking + traveling + other activities
This simple idea will help you use both expressions correctly.
American vs British English
“Among others” is standard in both American and British English.
There is no major difference in its meaning or grammar between the two varieties.
You can find the expression in formal writing, journalism, academic English, business communication, and everyday speech in both varieties.
For example:
The committee included teachers, parents, and administrators, among others.
is natural in both American and British English.
The main difference is not regional but stylistic. “Among others” can sound somewhat formal, so in casual conversation people may simply say:
and other people
For example:
I met some writers and other people at the event.
Both versions are correct, but “among others” is more concise and often more polished.
Similar Words
Several expressions have a similar meaning to “among others.”
Including
Including shows that the things mentioned are part of a larger group.
Several experts attended, including doctors and engineers.
And others
This is a more direct and informal alternative.
Writers, artists, and others attended the event.
And more
This suggests additional examples.
The store sells books, toys, games, and more.
Among other things
This is useful when referring to additional activities, matters, or subjects.
She enjoys reading and traveling, among other things.
Such as
This introduces examples.
The course covers subjects such as grammar and vocabulary.
For example
This explicitly introduces one or more examples.
Many languages are spoken there. For example, English and French are common.
Etc.
Etc. means “and other similar things.”
The store sells books, magazines, newspapers, etc.
However, among others can sound more polished when referring to people.
FAQs
What does “among others” mean?
“Among others” means including additional people or things that have not been specifically mentioned. It indicates that the examples listed are not the complete group.
What is an example of “among others”?
An example is:
The event attracted actors, musicians, and writers, among others.
This means actors, musicians, and writers attended, along with other people.
Is “among others” grammatically correct?
Yes. “Among others” is a standard and grammatically correct English expression.
Can “among others” refer to things?
Yes, but the most natural choice depends on context. For general things and activities, “among other things” is often more natural.
What is the difference between “among others” and “among other things”?
“Among others” commonly refers to additional people or members of a group, while “among other things” usually refers to additional matters, activities, facts, or things.
What is another way to say “among others”?
Depending on the context, alternatives include including, and others, and more, among other things, such as, and for example.
Is “among others” formal?
It can sound somewhat formal and is especially common in professional, academic, and written English. However, it is also perfectly acceptable in everyday conversation.
Does “among others” mean “etc.”?
They can have a similar function, but they are not exactly the same. “Among others” often refers to additional members of a group, while etc. generally means other similar things.
Final Verdict
“Among others” means that the people or things you have mentioned are only some members of a larger group. It is a concise way to avoid listing every person or item.
For example:
The conference attracted doctors, lawyers, and journalists, among others.
The sentence tells us that doctors, lawyers, and journalists attended, but other people attended too.
The phrase is particularly useful when you want to give examples without suggesting that your list is complete. Remember that “among other things” is usually the better choice when discussing additional activities, matters, or miscellaneous things.
Remember This
The easiest way to remember “among others” is:
Among others = these are some, but there are more.
She met several famous actors, among others.
Means:
She met several famous actors and other people too.
For activities or matters, use:
Among other things = these are some things, but there are more.
He enjoys reading and traveling, among other things.
So remember:
Among others → additional people or members
Among other things → additional things, activities, or matters
Including → introduces specific examples
Such as → gives examples
Etc. → and other similar things
Conclusion
The phrase “among others” is a useful expression for showing that the people or things you have mentioned are only part of a larger group. It helps writers avoid unnecessarily long lists while making it clear that additional members exist. It is especially common in professional, academic, journalistic, and formal English.
The key is to understand what comes before the phrase. If you are naming several people and want to indicate that others were involved too, “among others” works naturally.
If you are talking about activities, subjects, or general matters, “among other things” is often the better expression. Once you understand this distinction, using “among others” becomes simple and natural.
Nancy Lisa is a passionate writer and contributor at DrameyHut, focused on uncovering the deeper meanings behind dreams. She creates engaging and insightful content that helps readers interpret their dreams and understand their subconscious thoughts. Her work inspires self-reflection, clarity, and a stronger connection to inner emotions.
