Beside vs Besides

The English language is full of words that sound similar but carry distinct meanings, often leading to confusion for writers and speakers alike. Two such words, beside and besides, are frequently mixed up due to their close pronunciation and overlapping usage in everyday conversation. However, understanding the difference between these terms is essential for clear communication. In this article, we’ll break down their definitions, explore their grammatical roles, and provide practical examples to help you confidently choose the right word in any context. Whether you’re polishing your writing or simply curious about language nuances, read on to unravel the mystery of beside versus besides.

How to use these words properly

“Beside” and “besides” are often confused because they sound similar, but they have different uses. Here’s the distinction between beside and besides:

• Beside (preposition) means “next to” or “at the side of.”
  • Example: He sat beside me during the meeting.
• Besides has two uses:
  • As a preposition, it means “in addition to” or “apart from.”
    • Example: Besides English, she also speaks Spanish.
  • As an adverb, it means “furthermore” or “in any case.”
    • Example: I don’t like coffee; besides, it keeps me awake at night.

So, the choice between “beside” and “besides” depends on the context. Here’s a quick summary to help differentiate

• Use beside when talking about physical location or position.
• Use besides when you’re adding information, indicating an exception, or meaning “in addition to.”

To make it clearer

• If you can replace the word with “next to,” use beside.
• If you can replace it with “in addition to” or “apart from,” use besides.