A Guide On Between vs In-between

It’s always a literal fight to untangle the tricky trio: “in between,” “inbetween,” and the OG “between.” Gladly, this article is all you need to understand which of them goes home today with no return ticket.

Contents

0.1 See Who Goes Home Amongst Others
0.2 So, The Real Battle is Between “in-between” and “Between”.
0.3 So, Who Wins The Battle?
- 0.3.1 More Assistance To Help You Decide
0.4 What About “In-between” with a Hyphen?

1 Final Thoughts

See Who Goes Home Amongst Others

First things first, let’s clear the air. “Inbetween” is a no-go zone. It’s like the rogue cousin of the grammar family, always showing up uninvited and causing some upset.

You won’t find it in any dictionary (unless it’s explaining why it shouldn’t be there). So, banish “inbetween” from your vocabulary like yesterday’s banana peel.

So, The Real Battle is Between “in-between” and “Between”.

Let’s break down their strengths and weaknesses:

Team “Between”:

This OG as I called it is a preposition that has been around for centuries, holding down the fort as the go-to word for separating things. Think of it as the Gandalf of prepositions, wise and reliable.

“Between” is two syllables, easy to write and say. No fancy hyphen business, just pure prepositional power. “Between” can be used as a preposition (“The cat sits between the sunbeam and the cardboard box”).

It can also be used as an adjective (“a between-meal snack”), and even an adverb (“She hesitated between answering yes or no”).

Team “In Between”:

This two-word combo adds a touch of emphasis. It’s like saying “between, but really, REALLY between.” Imagine it as the Legolas of prepositions, flashy and skilled with a bow (hyphen) in hand.

“In between” can sometimes paint a more vivid picture. It adds a sense of pause, of space between two distinct things. While “in-between” can be seen as a reliable tool, you’ve got better choices.

So, Who Wins The Battle?

The truth is, there’s no clear-cut winner. It’s only a matter of the context and the effect you want to achieve.

More Assistance To Help You Decide

Go with “between” when:

You want clear, concise writing.
You’re using it as an adverb or adjective.
You’re not aiming for a specific emphasis.

Choose “in-between” when:

You want to add emphasis to the space or separation between things.
You’re creating a more descriptive or poetic tone.
You’re feeling adventurous and wish to switch things up.

Always remember, that the key is to be mindful of your audience and the purpose of your writing. Use whichever proposition feels most natural and effective in that specific situation.

What About “In-between” with a Hyphen?

I know you must be asking this too, but things can get more tricky here. As a compound adjective (“the in-between time”), it’s acceptable. But just like a hyphen shouldn’t be a party crasher, don’t force it in where it doesn’t belong.

Final Thoughts

Without thinking twice, this article has successfully untangled the tricky trio as I called it earlier. It did mention that you have no business with “inbetween” and should varnish it from your vocabulary.

“In between” and “between” literally won the battle but the usage will depend on the idea you want to convey. Just remember, in the end, it’s not about choosing a side, but about using the right tool for the job.

Wordility