Besides vs Beside

The confusing word pair of ‘besides vs beside’ is a very interesting example in English language wordplay. Both might mean the same and look the same however there are some key differences when it comes to their meaning and the usage of the words besides vs beside. The given blog will help us identify and understand these differences using popular examples and their right usage.

What does  ‘Besides’’ Mean?

Besides is a preposition that you use when you want to make an addition to your point, you use it basically to suggest something apart from what you have essentially addressed in your speech or you wish to add to your train of thought. 

Definition of Besides 

Besides is both used as a preposition and an adverb too.
As a Preposition 
Besides means “in addition to; apart from” (apart from, other than, aside from, but for) 
As an Adverb
Besides means “ in addition, as well”
(as well, too, in addition, also, on top of that)

What does ‘Beside’ Mean?

Beside is also a preposition you use when you want to denote or address the location of a particular object where it is placed or located at. Beside is a word you would basically use to address where the object is located or kept next to an adjoining or opposite object. 

Definition of Beside 

Beside is used as a preposition by which it means ‘at the side of’; ‘next to’ (alongside, by the side of, next to)

Also Read: Rules of Prepositions

Besides vs Beside Key Differences 

The key difference between besides and beside how to and when to use them situation-wise. If you wish to sound more formal-like in sentences, you can use beside for the alternate words “next to; or at the side of ”

Here are some examples:

1. Lily and Sandra sit next to each other in opera class for regular lessons. 

This instant is an informal example, however, if you wish to tweak it a bit, simply replace the underlined phrase with the preposition beside.

2. Lily and Sandra sit beside each other in opera class for regular lessons.

Now looking at the preposition besides we need to remember that the word Besides is used both as a preposition and an adverb also depending on the situations or context they are used in. 

If you were to use besides in an instance to state a fact or add onto a fact or an opinion, you would add besides as a point of reference. 

3. I happen to know a lot about the country Egypt. Besides, it works out well for me because I am a history buff. 

This is the example where the word Besides is used as an add on point for reference or emphasise more on the point already mentioned. 

Example of Besides as an Adverb

Lily made sure that James left the tunnel safely, besides Severus was there to protect Lily waiting as her guardian. 

Notice here how besides acts as an adverb because it gives a quality to the proper noun used in the sentence and also adds onto the conversation taking place in the sentence. 

Also Read: Confusing Words

Usage of Besides 

Here are some elaborated examples on how to use ‘Besides’ in the correct manner:

• He stood beside his new car proudly. (here beside means next to the car)
• I keep a dictionary beside me when I am writing. (here it means that the person keeps the dictionary next to himself/herself)
• Will you sit beside me at dinner? (here again next to is used in the form of action that demonstrates the act of sitting next to someone)
• The barn beside the farmer’s house was falling down. (here the given example demonstrates that the barn is located near the farm)

Examples for Besides 

• Besides milk and cheese, we need vegetables. 
• Besides what you said, we must also consider what she said.
• The trip is too expensive, besides, I don’t really like hot weather. 
• It’s a great book. Besides, I really love the genre. 
• I’d like to learn a lot, besides it will help me get good marks. 
• Besides a new car , I’d love to own a vintage motorcycle. 
• She does all the exercises, but nothing else besides. 

Usage of Beside 

Here are some useful examples for incorporating ‘Beside’:

• What are you working on besides the research project? ( here besides is used to inquire what other work the subject does apart from research).
• There will be four of us for dinner besides Kalindi ( here besides addresses that apart from Kalindi more people will be there).
• She has no relatives besides an aged Aunt ( here the fact is stated that the only relative the subject has is her aunt).

Examples for the Word Beside 

• They have a fabulous house beside the sea. 
• My mother has placed a blue table beside my bed.
• His essay doesn’t seem so good beside Jane’s . 
• She came and sat beside me.
• Put it on the small table beside the bed.
• I always felt ugly beside Monica. 
• That book looks really good beside this one. 

She is my youngest child and I have three others besides. (here besides is used to add to the fact the subject has three other children as well).

Also Read: 50 Difficult Words with Meaning 

Grammar Rules on When to Apply Besides vs Beside 

Both words besides vs beside are connectors of sorts. Connectors are connecting words or linking words.

Besides refers to adding to a fact or a used as a proper cohesive or transitional device. 
Beside refers to a particular place or a location of an object or a person. 

Beside is a true proposition (preposition= a linking word that shows the relationship between a noun or a proper pronoun)

Besides is a preposition as well as an adverb (adverb= an adverb describes the verb, adjective or another adverb highlighting its quality) 

This was everything about the preposition Beside vs besides, I hope this article was helpful, you can find more related articles on Grammar lessons and interesting topics on unique English terms with wordplay on our Leverage Edu blogs, till then Happy Learning!