“Among Others” – Meaning & Correct Usage (With Examples)

The phrase “among others” plays a surprisingly important role in both everyday conversation and writing. It’s a simple way to say that a few people or things are part of a larger group—without having to list every single one. This little expression adds clarity and precision, helping you highlight a few examples while implying there’s more that you haven’t named.

From my own experience, knowing how and when to use “among others” makes your language feel more smooth and natural. Whether you’re talking about a few teammates, items in a list, or even authors in a study, this phrase signals that the people or things mentioned are just part of the picture.

Take this sentence, for example: “She invited Sarah, John, among others.” You immediately understand that Sarah and John aren’t the only ones invited—they’re just a few out of a larger group. This way, you can keep your message concise, clear, and easy to follow, without overwhelming your reader or listener with too many details.

Table of Contents

What Does “Among Others” Mean?

At its core, “among others” indicates that a list is not complete—it includes some examples but implies there are more unnamed items.

For instance, if you say:

“She’s worked with Microsoft, Google, and Amazon, among others.”

You tell the reader those companies are part of a larger group. The phrase helps avoid long, tedious lists while signaling the presence of additional entities.

Why Use “Among Others”?

To suggest diversity or quantity without enumerating all items
To maintain brevity in writing
To add credibility by showing association with notable examples

Origins and Evolution of “Among Others”

The phrase “among others” has roots tracing back to Middle English, influenced by Latin and Old French. It grew from the use of “among” as a preposition meaning “in the company of” or “surrounded by,” combined with “others” referring to unspecified additional people or things.

Over centuries, the phrase moved from formal texts to common usage. Today, you’ll find it in everything from academic papers to casual conversations. Its flexibility and clarity have cemented its place in English.

How “Among Others” Functions in Sentences

In sentence construction, “among others” functions as a postpositive phrase—it often follows the noun phrase it modifies. Its primary role is to highlight that the listed items are part of a broader group.

Nuance With Similar Phrases

“Including” introduces a sample but doesn’t always imply the list is incomplete.
“Such as” suggests examples but often invites a fuller list.
“Among others” explicitly signals a non-exhaustive list, which adds a subtle nuance of open-endedness.

For example:

“She has visited Paris, London, and Rome, among others.” (Implying more cities)
“She has visited cities such as Paris, London, and Rome.” (Suggesting these are examples, possibly among others)

Sentence Placement: Where to Use “Among Others”

Knowing where to place “among others” in a sentence improves clarity and flow. You can put it in:

Beginning of a Sentence

Rarely used but possible for emphasis:

“Among others, the CEO praised the marketing team.”

Middle of a Sentence

Less common but grammatically correct if inserted carefully:

“The team, among others, contributed to the success.”

End of a Sentence

This is the most natural and frequent placement:

“He’s collaborated with Tesla, SpaceX, and Blue Origin, among others.”

Table: Placement Examples

Placement	Example	Notes
Beginning	Among others, she won the award.	Adds emphasis, formal tone
Middle	The proposal, among others, was considered.	Can interrupt flow if overused
End	He visited Tokyo, Seoul, and Beijing, among others.	Natural and smooth

Punctuation Rules with “Among Others”

Correct punctuation around “among others” affects readability. Here’s a simple guide:

Use a Comma Before “Among Others”

When it comes after a list at the sentence end
Example:
“She studied biology, chemistry, and physics, among others.”

No Comma Needed

When it’s embedded within a clause or the sentence continues afterward
Example:
“The research, among others conducted by Harvard, influenced policy.”

Why Does This Matter?

Punctuation guides the reader’s pause and helps distinguish if the phrase is part of the list or an additional comment.

Real-World Examples of “Among Others” in Context

Seeing the phrase in action helps cement understanding.

Formal Writing

“Our findings align with those from the studies by Johnson, Lee, and Patel, among others.”
“She has contributed to reports on climate change, public health, and education, among others.”

Informal Writing

“I’ve watched movies like Inception, Interstellar, and The Matrix, among others.”
“They serve Italian, Mexican, and Thai food, among others, at the festival.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using “among others” to follow a complete list without implying more
Example error:

“She has only three pets: a cat, a dog, and a rabbit, among others.” (Contradicts “only three”)

Common Mistakes to Avoid with “Among Others”

Even native speakers slip up. Here’s what to watch for:

Overusing the phrase—it loses impact if repeated too often
Misplacing it where it confuses meaning
Using it after an exhaustive list (e.g., “She has only three kids, among others.”) which creates contradiction
Confusing it with “between others” (which is incorrect)

“Among Others” vs. Similar Phrases (With Examples)

Understanding alternatives gives you tools for variety and precision.

Phrase	Meaning	Usage Example	Formality Level
Among others	Non-exhaustive list, unspecified others	“He cited Einstein, Newton, among others.”	Neutral to formal
Including	Some examples from a larger group	“She likes fruits including apples and oranges.”	Neutral
Such as	Gives examples, slightly more specific	“He plays sports such as soccer and basketball.”	Neutral
Inter alia	“Among other things” (Latin origin)	“The report covers, inter alia, finance and law.”	Formal, legal
Et al.	“And others” (usually people)	“Smith et al. (2020) found…”	Academic, formal

Should You Use “Among Others”? A Quick Checklist

Ask yourself:

Is your list partial, not full?
Do you want to imply more items without naming them?
Is your tone neutral to formal?
Will the phrase enhance clarity and flow?

If yes to these, using “among others” adds precision and style.

Conclusion

Mastering “among others” elevates your writing by allowing you to reference additional, unnamed items with grace and precision. It helps you keep sentences clear and concise while hinting at broader contexts.

Remember to place it mainly at the sentence’s end, punctuate correctly with commas when following lists, and avoid overuse or contradiction. By doing so, your writing gains professionalism and subtlety—a perfect combo for clear communication.

FAQS

How do you use among others in a sentence?

You can use “among others” to show something is part of a group, especially when not listing everything.
Example: She has worked with top brands, among others, Nike and Apple.

Among which meaning and sentence?

“Among which” refers to specific items in a previously mentioned group.
Example: He owns several luxury cars, among which is a rare Lamborghini.

What is the meaning of among others?

“Among others” means “along with other people or things” and implies you’re not naming the entire group.
It helps keep the list short while suggesting there are more items.