If a person is in a relationship, they refer to their significant other as their boyfriend or girlfriend, whilst those who are not refer to their partners as "someone they're dating." In case you're confused, here are some key distinctions between being in a relationship and dating someone. Being in a relationship means that you share your time with this person and have a mutual understanding about your relationships. You would not call yourself his girlfriend if you did not understand that he was involved with others too. It is also reasonable for him to have friends that you do not know about; therefore, it is impossible to be his only friend or girlfriend. On the other hand, dating is about having interest in each other without any commitment. You could date several people at the same time without being in a relationship with any of them. However, when you go out with someone regularly, take them out on dates, and talk with them about your feelings, then you are dating someone. It is important to remember that just because you are dating someone does not mean that you have to spend every single minute with them. You should both have some space apart from each other so that you can stay healthy emotionally. Finally, don't expect your partner to treat you like one of the family.