Hi everyone, hello to all and sundry. I joined this because I needed an opinion to the following question I shall be asking soon and also because I was an English teacher to foreigners and am still fascinated with the English language, despite knowing it since I was born.

What is the difference between these two spellings:-

: among and amongst
: beknown and beknownst
: amid and amidst

Many people have shown scorn for those who use the 'amongst' and 'amidst', which they declare is incorrect.

I must admit that I've interchanged the two, though I'm sure my earlier education didn't use the '-st'. But today it's as comfortable to use as breathing is.

Which is correct? Or are both equally correct?

thanks!