Between or in between.

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tufguy

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If you have to choose "in between" or "between" two devils always choose the lesser one.

Please check.
 
Which one do you think is correct and why? We can't just keep giving you the answers, especially when you don't tell us why you're confused about choosing between two options.
 
Which one do you think is correct and why? We can't just keep giving you the answers, especially when you don't tell us why you're confused about choosing between two options.

I think "between" should be used but I am not sure. I don't know the reason but I think between is more natural than in between.
 
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Could you please help me?
 
I'm not a teacher but I'm pretty sure that only "between" is correct here.
 
If you're talking about making a choice with two options, use "between":

I have to choose between red wine and white wine.
You have to choose between Jim and Peter.
We had to choose between a terrifying mountain climb and certain death.


If you're talking about relative location, you can use either one:

The bank is between the Post Office and the launderette
The bank is in between the Post Office and the launderette.

My house is between Jane's and Stephanie's.
My house is in between Jane's and Stephanie's.


If you're talking about relative time, you can use either:

I am between jobs.
I am in between jobs.

I have to go food shopping between the school run and my dental appointment.
I have to go food shopping in between the school run and my dental appointment.
 
If you choose between two evils, you do choose one. In between is used for a space between the two, so you would be trying to avoid both, which doesn't go with your verb.
 
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There is the idiom "Better the devil you know than (the) one you don't (know)".
 
So far I haven't been able to think of an example in which "in between" works but "between" doesn't so, to be safe, stick with "between".
 
So far I haven't been able to think of an example in which "in between" works but "between" doesn't so, to be safe, stick with "between".

You may have to say in between if it ends a sentence: An Oreo has two black wafers with white creme in between.
 
You may have to say in between if it ends a sentence: An Oreo has two black wafers with white creme in between.

That's true though ending it with "between them" works just as well.
 
We normally try to go for the lesser of two evils.

Good point- I had just changed my post to reflect this when I saw it was in the original. ;-)
 
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