Confusing words explained
“beside” vs “besides” — What’s the Difference?
'Beside' = at the side of; 'besides' = in addition to or anyway.
Key takeaway
Quick Difference: beside vs besides
'Beside' = at the side of; 'besides' = in addition to or anyway.
beside vs besides Side-by-Side Comparison
Meaning of beside
At the side of or next to someone or something.
In the position next to or alongside something or someone.
Use for physical location or position. Do not use to mean 'in addition to'.
- She sat beside me during the movie.
- The house is beside the river.
Meaning of besides
In addition to; moreover; also.
Used to add information or give another reason; also means 'anyway'.
Common in conversation and informal writing to add reasons or extra information.
- I don't want to go. Besides, I have a lot of work to do.
- She speaks three languages, and besides, she writes well.
How to Remember the Difference
Beside = location (next to). Besides = 'plus' (also, in addition).
Common Mistakes with beside and besides
Mistake with beside
Wrong: Besides the window, there is a desk.
Correct: Beside the window, there is a desk.
'Beside' (not 'besides') means at the side of something. 'Besides' means 'in addition to' or 'anyway'.
Mistake with beside
Wrong: He sat beside of me.
Correct: He sat beside me.
'Beside' is a preposition and does not take 'of'. Say 'beside me', not 'beside of me'.
Mistake with besides
Wrong: Beside, I think we should go home.
Correct: Besides, I think we should go home.
'Besides' (adverb) means 'in addition' or 'moreover'. 'Beside' (preposition) means 'next to'.
Mistake with besides
Wrong: He stood beside from me.
Correct: He stood beside me.
This mixes the preposition 'beside' with 'from'. 'Beside' does not take 'from'.
Practice Quiz: beside or besides?
Choose the word that best completes each real example sentence.
Question 1
She sat _____ me during the movie.
Question 2
The house is _____ the river.
Question 3
Park your car _____ the entrance.
Pick at least one answer, then press Check answers to see how you did.
You scored 0 out of 3
Frequently Asked Questions About beside vs besides
What’s the difference between “beside” and “besides”?
'Beside' = at the side of; 'besides' = in addition to or anyway.
When should I use “beside”?
Use for physical location or position. Do not use to mean 'in addition to'.
When should I use “besides”?
Common in conversation and informal writing to add reasons or extra information.
How can I remember beside vs besides?
Beside = location (next to). Besides = 'plus' (also, in addition).
Is it “beside” or “besides” in example sentences?
Use the quiz above to test the pair with real example sentences from the available word data.