In Between vs. Inbetween: What's the Difference?
Learn why in between is normally two words, when in-between needs a hyphen, and why inbetween is nonstandard, with examples, a quiz, and FAQs.
In between is the standard two-word phrase when it functions adverbially or follows a noun: the café is in between. In-between is hyphenated when it modifies a noun, as in an in-between stage. Inbetween, written as one word, is not standard in edited English.
Working with a longer passage? Use our free AI text summarizer to turn it into a focused overview, then return here to check the wording.
At 9:35 a.m., a progress report calls the project an “inbetween phase.” The phrase sits directly before phase and modifies it, so the polished form is the hyphenated adjective “in-between phase.”
In Between vs. Inbetween at a glance
| Word | Typical role | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| in between | Prepositional or adverbial phrase | in the middle of two points, states, or choices | The pharmacy is in between the bank and the station. |
| inbetween | Nonstandard spelling | a one-word spelling of in between | Nonstandard: The answer lies inbetween the two extremes. |
How to use in between
Write in between as two words when between keeps its ordinary grammatical role. It can identify a position, time, range, or intermediate choice. A following pair may be joined by and, while an adverbial use can stand alone: neither option fits, so choose something in between.
The pharmacy is in between the bank and the station.
How to use inbetween
Inbetween appears informally, but major edited-English conventions keep the phrase separate or hyphenate it as an adjective. Use in between after a verb or preposition-like construction, and use in-between before the noun it modifies.
Nonstandard: The answer lies inbetween the two extremes.
Rules that make the choice easier
Use two words for position
When the phrase answers where, when, or between which points, write in between: the folder sits in between the books.
Hyphenate before a noun
Use in-between as a compound adjective before a noun: an in-between size, an in-between moment, or an in-between solution.
Avoid the closed spelling
Do not combine the phrase into inbetween in formal, academic, or professional prose.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Incorrect: an inbetween option. Correct: an in-between option.
- Incorrect: Stand in-between the chairs. Preferred: Stand in between the chairs.
- Do not hyphenate an ordinary phrase merely because the words appear next to each other.
Quick practice
1. The office is ___ the two elevators.
Answer: in between
2. We need an ___ solution.
Answer: in-between
3. Is inbetween standard edited spelling?
Answer: No
Frequently asked questions
Is in between one word or two?
It is normally two words; use a hyphen when it modifies a noun.
Is inbetween a word?
It occurs informally, but it is not the standard spelling in edited English.
When do you hyphenate in-between?
Hyphenate it as a compound adjective before a noun, as in an in-between stage.
Is it somewhere in between or inbetween?
Write somewhere in between, using two words.