Beside and besides sound very similar and the spelling difference between the two words is a small one. This is why most learners sometimes confuse the words beside and besides. Needless to say, their meanings and uses are quite different!
Beside (with no “s” at the end) is used only as a preposition, which means there is always a noun following it. Beside usually means “next to” or “at the side of”. In some specific cases, it also means “compared with”:
Sit here beside me. (Sit here “next to” me)
My painting looks childish beside yours. My painting looks childish “compared with” yours.
Besides, instead, means “in addition to something” or “except”:
What other sports do you play besides football? (What other sports do you play “in addition to” football?)
There’s no one here besides me. (There’s no one here “except” me)
However, besides can also be used as an adverb, to introduce additional information, not differently from “furthermore”, “moreover”, like in the following example:
I don’t really want to go. Besides, it’s too late now
I don’t really want to go. “Moreover”, it’s too late now
Still assailed by a doubt about the use of beside and besides? Contact us!
