{"id":3617,"date":"2026-10-26T11:24:02","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T03:24:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.esifinland.com\/blog\/?p=3617"},"modified":"2026-10-26T11:24:02","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T03:24:02","slug":"how-to-use-others-in-a-sentence-with-a-preposition-4f49-26790d","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.esifinland.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/26\/how-to-use-others-in-a-sentence-with-a-preposition-4f49-26790d\/","title":{"rendered":"How to use ‘others’ in a sentence with a preposition?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hey guys, let\u2019s cut to the chase\u2014if you\u2019ve ever stared at a sentence and gone, \u201cWait, do I say \u2018with others\u2019 or \u2018among others\u2019? Or even \u2018for others\u2019?\u201d you\u2019re not alone. When I first started in the \u201cothers\u201d supplier game, I thought it was just a random set of words to toss into emails. Turns out, that stuff matters\u2014especially when you\u2019re writing to vendors, clients, or even your team. I\u2019ve been in this lane for 7 years now, and I\u2019ve messed up so many times that I can spot a \u201cwrong others\u201d sentence from a mile away. Let\u2019s break this down like we\u2019re shooting the breeze over coffee, no stuffy grammar textbooks here. Others<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

First, let\u2019s get one thing straight: \u201cothers\u201d isn\u2019t a noun you can just plop next to a preposition willy-nilly. Prepositions (words like \u201cwith,\u201d \u201camong,\u201d \u201cfor,\u201d \u201cabout,\u201d \u201cbetween,\u201d etc.) link \u201cothers\u201d to the rest of the sentence, and that link has to make sense. For example, if I send a note to my supplier buddies, I don\u2019t say \u201cI shipped 50 units others\u201d \u2014 that\u2019s garbage. No preposition, no connection. So let\u2019s start with the most common prepositions I use every single week, tied directly to what I do as an \u201cothers\u201d supplier.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s kick off with \u201camong others.\u201d This one\u2019s probably the most overused, but so many people get it wrong. Wait, no\u2014let me rephrase: so many people use it when it doesn\u2019t fit. \u201cAmong others\u201d means \u201calong with other people or things in a group.\u201d Right? So if I\u2019m talking about recent orders for my business, I might say, \u201cThis quarter, our top clients include a retail brand, a packaging company, and a stationery maker, among others.\u201d That works because we\u2019re listing a group, and \u201camong others\u201d is tagging onto that group. But here\u2019s my mistake last year: I wrote, \u201cWe need to restock among others our custom size bins.\u201d That\u2019s not a group! I was talking about one specific thing (custom size bins) plus a few others, but that preposition \u201camong\u201d needs the main thing to be part of a group. So I fixed that to \u201cWe need to restock our custom size bins and others like them\u201d \u2014 boom, that makes sense. Another tip: if you can swap \u201camong others\u201d out for \u201cand other things,\u201d it\u2019s good. If you can\u2019t, don\u2019t use it. I test every time I write a client email: if I say \u201cour best sellers include x, y, and z, among others,\u201d swapping gives \u201cour best sellers include x, y, and z, and other things\u201d \u2014 perfect, that fits.<\/p>\n

Next up: \u201cwith others.\u201d This one\u2019s for when you\u2019re working alongside other people or things, right? As an \u201cothers\u201d supplier, I deal with this every day because we often supply parts that go into larger projects. Last month, I had a manufacturing client hit me up: \u201cWe need your plastic fasteners to work with others like our metal brackets.\u201d That\u2019s exactly right! \u201cWith others\u201d here means the fasteners play nice with other components. But I\u2019ve seen people mess this up too. A new rep at my company once wrote, \u201cCan you send us a quote with others for bulk items?\u201d That sounded like he wanted a quote along with other quotes, but what he actually meant was, \u201cCan you send a quote for bulk items to go with others on our next order?\u201d Oh, big difference. So \u201cwith others\u201d is all about partnership\u2014two or more things existing together. Another way to use it? When I\u2019m talking about customer feedback: \u201cA lot of buyers say our storage boxes work great with others they already have in their closets.\u201d Yep, that\u2019s partnership. That\u2019s the kind of line that makes clients go, \u201cOh, this supplier gets it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s \u201cfor others.\u201d This one\u2019s straightforward, but don\u2019t sleep on it. \u201cFor others\u201d means something is intended to help, belong to, or be used by other people. For our business, that\u2019s the bread and butter. We don\u2019t just make \u201cothers\u201d parts\u2014we make them for other businesses. A line I use all the time in pitches: \u201cWe specialize in custom small parts designed for others who build eco-friendly products.\u201d Wait, that\u2019s perfect because it tells the client exactly who we\u2019re making these for. But here\u2019s a mistake I\u2019ve seen: someone wrote, \u201cWe have a wide range of parts for others that need quick shipping.\u201d No, that\u2019s missing the target. It should be \u201cWe have a wide range of parts for others who need quick shipping.\u201d Oh, right! \u201cFor others\u201d needs a clear group\u2014you can\u2019t have \u201cfor others\u201d hanging without knowing which others. Another example: \u201cThis batch of cable ties is for others assembling outdoor equipment\u201d \u2014 that makes sense, because you\u2019re specifying the group they\u2019re for. If I\u2019d left off \u201cwho,\u201d it would sound like we\u2019re making ties for \u201cothers\u201d as a thing, not people or businesses. That\u2019s a tiny tweak that makes your sentence actually communicate, not just sound fancy.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s move to \u201cabout others.\u201d This one\u2019s for when you\u2019re talking or writing related to other things. I use this when updating clients on inventory: \u201cJust sent over an update about others in the warehouse\u2014we\u2019re low on the 2×4 inch plastic tabs.\u201d That works because we\u2019re talking about others (the parts we supply) in the context of an update. But again, mistake alert: don\u2019t say \u201cI\u2019m writing about others I ordered\u201d \u2014 that\u2019s too vague. Be specific: \u201cI\u2019m writing about others I ordered for your prototype run.\u201d Now it\u2019s clear what others, what for. I once had a client reply, \u201cYour email was about others\u2014can you clarify which ones?\u201d That hurt a little, but it taught me: \u201cabout others\u201d is only useful if you\u2019re referring to a specific set of others, not just random ones.<\/p>\n

What about \u201cbetween others\u201d? Wait, that\u2019s a tricky one. \u201cBetween\u201d usually refers to two things, right? So \u201cbetween others\u201d only works when you\u2019re picking between two things that are part of a bigger group. For example: \u201cWhen choosing a supplier, we had to pick between others that offer eco materials and ones that don\u2019t.\u201d That makes sense because it\u2019s narrowing down to two options out of a bunch. But if you say \u201cWe need to pick between others\u201d \u2014 no, that\u2019s not enough. You need to name the two. I tried that once with a vendor, and they replied, \u201cBetween others what?\u201d Oops, right. \u201cBetween others\u201d is super specific\u2014only use it when you\u2019re comparing two items from a group. That\u2019s the preposition most people get wrong because they mix up \u201cbetween\u201d (two) and \u201camong\u201d (three+), and when you add \u201cothers,\u201d that rule still applies.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s tie this back to why this matters for me and, honestly, for you if you\u2019re buying \u201cothers\u201d parts. I used to think grammar stuff was just for English teachers, but here\u2019s the truth: when you write a clear sentence with the right preposition, you get a faster response, fewer mix-ups, and less wasted time. Last quarter, a client emailed me: \u201cCan you rush the parts with the metal connectors that work with others on our assembly line?\u201d That\u2019s so clear, I knew exactly what they needed. If they\u2019d written \u201cCan you rush the parts with others on our assembly line,\u201d I would\u2019ve had to send a follow-up email, which delays their order. For a supplier like me, speed is everything\u2014your words save time.<\/p>\n

Wait, let\u2019s also talk about a common case where people use \u201cothers\u201d with no preposition at all, but that\u2019s a big no-no when you\u2019re being specific. For example, \u201cWe need more others\u201d \u2014 that sounds like you\u2019re ordering random stuff, not specific parts. If you say \u201cWe need more others for our custom totes\u201d (using \u201cfor others\u201d), that\u2019s clear. Or \u201cWe need more others that work with our current hardware\u201d (using \u201cwith others\u201d). That small preposition makes all the difference between a vague order and a specific, actionable one.<\/p>\n

Let me throw in a real example from last week to make this stick. I had a purchase order come in from a small business: \u201cWe need 100 adhesive strips for others that are water-resistant.\u201d Wait, that\u2019s almost right, but they missed a small tweak. It should be \u201cWe need 100 adhesive strips for others who sell outdoor gear\u201d \u2014 or, if they meant for other parts of their own products, \u201cWe need 100 adhesive strips with others on our waterproof phone cases.\u201d That\u2019s the difference between me sending the right stuff and them having to return half the order. And returning stuff kills everyone\u2019s time\u2014yours, mine, no one wants that.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s clear up a myth: \u201cothers\u201d is only for physical parts? No, I\u2019ve seen people use it for services, too. For example, if you\u2019re a service provider that offers \u201cothers\u201d add-ons, you might say, \u201cOur add-on service works well with others like digital marketing packages\u201d (using \u201cwith others\u201d). Or \u201cWe design add-ons for others who run small cafes\u201d (using \u201cfor others\u201d). The rule stays the same, no matter what \u201cothers\u201d you\u2019re talking about. The preposition just links the \u201cothers\u201d to what\u2019s around it.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s recap the quick rules I live by, so you don\u2019t have to scribble notes like I used to:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Use \u201camong others\u201d when you\u2019re listing a group (3+ things\/people) and it\u2019s part of a bigger set. Test it: swap out for \u201cand other things\u201d \u2014 if it fits, you\u2019re good.<\/li>\n
  2. Use \u201cwith others\u201d when your \u201cothers\u201d are working alongside something else (parts, services, people).<\/li>\n
  3. Use \u201cfor others\u201d when your \u201cothers\u201d are intended for a specific group\u2014never leave \u201cothers\u201d hanging here, always name the group.<\/li>\n
  4. Use \u201cabout others\u201d only when you\u2019re talking about a specific set of \u201cothers\u201d in an update or message.<\/li>\n
  5. Use \u201cbetween others\u201d only when you\u2019re comparing two specific \u201cothers\u201d from a group (follow the \u201cbetween two\u201d rule, even with \u201cothers\u201d).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    <\/p>\n

    And one last thing: don\u2019t overcomplicate it. I\u2019ve seen people stuff \u201camong others\u201d into a sentence where it doesn\u2019t belong just to sound fancy, and it always backfires. My go-to trick? Read your sentence out loud. If it sounds weird, it is. If when you say it, you catch yourself adding a preposition that\u2019s missing, that\u2019s your cue to fix it. For example, if you read \u201cWe need more others\u201d and go, \u201cWait, more others for what?\u201d add \u201cfor others that need it\u201d or whatever fits.<\/p>\n

    Solar Street Light Other<\/a> Now, if you\u2019re out there shopping for \u201cothers\u201d parts, whether you\u2019re a small business owner or a big manufacturing team, I\u2019m here to make this part easy. I\u2019ve got a huge inventory of \u201cothers\u201d custom and standard parts, all made to fit with what you\u2019re already building, for exactly the uses you need. No more mixing up prepositions, no more vague orders that get sent to the wrong place. Just shoot me a note, tell me what you\u2019re working on, and we\u2019ll get your order right the first time. No hoops, no weird grammar hoops\u2014just straight talk and the parts you need.<\/p>\n

    References<\/h3>\n
      \n
    1. The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition<\/li>\n
    2. Merriam-Webster Dictionary Entry for "other" (adjective, pronoun)<\/li>\n
    3. Business Writing Essentials: A Guide for Effective Communication in Procurement, 2022<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n

      Zhongshan Flying Lighting Co., Ltd.<\/a><\/p>\n

      Address: No.99 North Shun Xing Road, Heng Lan Town, Zhongshan City, Guangdong, China
      E-mail: s9@flyinglighting.com
      WebSite:       https:\/\/www.flyinglighting.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Hey guys, let\u2019s cut to the chase\u2014if you\u2019ve ever stared at a sentence and gone, \u201cWait, … How to use ‘others’ in a sentence with a preposition?<\/span>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":3617,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3580],"class_list":["post-3617","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry","tag-others-48f2-2787ae"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.esifinland.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3617","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.esifinland.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.esifinland.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.esifinland.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.esifinland.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3617"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.esifinland.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3617\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.esifinland.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.esifinland.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3617"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.esifinland.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3617"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.esifinland.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3617"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}