In Between, Inbetween or Between: Understanding the Nuances of English Prepositions
Quick Answer
Between is a preposition — use it to show position or connection. In between (two words) means “in the middle.” In-between (with a hyphen) describes something in the middle. Inbetween is not a real word — do not use it.
The shop is between the bank and the bakery. She wore an in-between colour — not dark and not light.
Between, In Between, and In-Between — See the Difference
These three forms look very similar, but they do different jobs. Look at these examples:
The park is between the school and the library. (shows position)
I had two classes. I rested in between. (means “in the middle time”)
She is at an in-between stage — not a beginner and not an expert. (describes the stage)
He sat between his two friends at lunch. (shows position)
Did you see the pattern? Between shows where something is. In between (two words) means “in the middle.” In-between (with a hyphen) describes a noun — it tells you the noun is in the middle of two things.
| Form | Job in a sentence | Example |
|---|---|---|
| between | Preposition (shows position) | The cat sat between us. |
| in between | Adverb (means “in the middle”) | I worked, then rested in between. |
| in-between | Adjective or noun (describes a middle thing) | an in-between size |
When to Use Between, In Between, and In-Between
Use “between” when you show the position of something:
- The ball rolled between the two chairs.
- Choose between the red one and the blue one.
- There is a path between the houses.
Use “in between” (two words, no hyphen) when you mean “in the middle”:
- I have meetings at 9 and 11. I will study in between.
- She put the photo in between the pages of her book.
- The two towns are far apart, with nothing in between.
Use “in-between” (with a hyphen) when you describe a noun:
- She is at an in-between level — not easy and not hard.
- There is no in-between — you either agree or you do not.
- He likes the in-between moments of the day — not morning and not night.
Easy way to remember: If the word comes before a noun and describes it, add a hyphen (in-between stage). If you just mean “in the middle,” write two separate words (in between). If you are showing position or connection, use between on its own.
The Rule in One Line: Between = position. In between = in the middle. In-between = describing word. Inbetween = wrong.
Real-Life Examples With Between and In Between
Here are sentences you might hear or use in everyday English:
- The supermarket is between the bank and the post office. (showing where it is)
- I have classes in the morning and evening, so I cook in between. (in the middle time)
- This shirt is an in-between size — bigger than small but smaller than medium. (describing the size)
- Can you hold this between your hands? (showing position)
- She is not happy and not sad — she feels something in between. (in the middle)
You are doing great. Now let us look at the mistakes many learners make.
The Most Common Mistakes With Between and In Between
Even advanced learners mix these up sometimes — so if you get confused, you are not alone. The hyphen is the trickiest part.
Mistake 1: Writing “inbetween” as one word
✗ The shop is inbetween the bank and the bakery.
✓ The shop is between the bank and the bakery.
Mistake 2: Using a hyphen when you do not need one
✗ I will rest in-between my classes.
✓ I will rest in between my classes.
Mistake 3: Forgetting the hyphen when describing a noun
✗ She is at an in between stage.
✓ She is at an in-between stage.
How to remember: Ask yourself — is this word describing a noun? If yes, add a hyphen (an in-between moment). If not, write two separate words (I rested in between) or just use between.
And remember: inbetween (one word, no space, no hyphen) is never correct. Always use a space or a hyphen.
Test Yourself: Between, In Between, or In-Between?
Choose the correct answer for each sentence. Click Check to see if you are right.
1. The park is _______ the school and the library.
2. She has an _______ size — not small and not large.
3. I have two meetings. I will eat lunch _______.
4. He sat _______ his two friends at dinner.
5. It was an _______ moment — not happy and not sad.
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You just learned the difference between between, in between, and in-between. That is one more confusing set of words you will never mix up again.
English has many word pairs where a space changes the meaning. For example, do you know the difference between a part and apart? One means “a piece of something.” The other means “separated.” But which one is which — and when do you use each one?
Next lesson: A Part vs Apart: What Is the Difference?
Source
between examples — Cambridge Dictionary
My name is Khamis Maiouf. I am the creator of the English Teacher Site, dedicated to providing valuable resources and insights for students around the world. With a passion for education and a commitment to helping students enhance their skills, I aim to make English teaching more effective and enjoyable for both educators and students.
