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I have a question about a possible error in some dictionary entry for the preposition "amid":

while noisy, busy, or confused events are happening - used in writing or news reports

So, "amid" should be followed by some "event". Yet the sample usage in the same dictionary reads:

The dollar has fallen in value amid rumors of weakness in the US economy.

A "rumor" is not an event. So, is "amid rumors of ..." wrong? Would this rewrite:

The dollar has fallen in value amid the spreading of rumors of weakness in the US economy.

,be better?

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  • Amid rumors is fine. You are taking the definition far too literally. Definitions are approximations of meaning. It might have said "while noise, bustle, or confusion is going on all around". Rumor is often compared to wild fire that spreads rapidly and burns uncontrollably.
    – TimR
    Commented Jul 8, 2015 at 11:11

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The press (which has it's own language and rules of grammar it seems) use the literary meaning of amid - to be among or surrounded by. Therefore, "amid rumours" is perfectly acceptable, and in fact the expected language used by journalists.

I should point out as a British English speaker, typing the word rumour with only one u feels icky.

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