Beside or besides? These two words look almost identical, but that extra s can change the meaning of a sentence. Beside usually means next to or at the side of, while besides usually means in addition to, also, or apart from.
If you are writing a message, school assignment, email, or article, choosing the right word matters. So how can you tell them apart quickly? The easiest test is simple: if you mean “next to,” use beside; if you mean “in addition to” or “also,” use besides.
This guide explains the difference with clear examples, grammar rules, common mistakes, confusing sentences, practical tests, and a short practice section.
Beside vs. Besides: Quick Answer
Beside means next to, alongside, or at the side of something or someone.
The chair is beside the table.
Besides usually means in addition to, also, or apart from.
Besides English, she studies Spanish.
The easiest memory rule is:
| Word | Simple meaning | Example |
| Beside | Next to | He sat beside me. |
| Besides | In addition to / also | Besides English, he studies Urdu. |
Cambridge identifies beside as a preposition meaning “at the side of” or “next to,” while besides can function as a preposition or linking adverb meaning “in addition to” or “also.”
What Does Beside Mean?
Beside is a preposition that usually describes the position of one person or thing in relation to another. Its basic meaning is next to or at the side of.
For example:
She sat beside her mother.
This means:
She sat next to her mother.
Other examples include:
- The phone is beside the computer.
- He stood beside his friend.
- Put the bag beside the door.
- A small table sits beside the sofa.
- The student placed her notebook beside the textbook.
In each case, beside describes a position.
Beside in Simple Words
Think of this equation:
Beside = next to
If you can replace beside with next to without changing the basic meaning, you probably have the right word.
The lamp is beside the bed.
The lamp is next to the bed.
Both sentences tell you about location.
What Does Besides Mean?
Besides has several closely related uses. It can mean in addition to, also, or apart from, depending on the sentence.
For example:
Besides English, Maria studies French.
Here, besides means in addition to.
Another example:
Besides, we don’t have enough time.
Here, besides adds another reason or point.
Cambridge describes besides as both a preposition and a linking adverb, with meanings including “in addition to” and “also.”
Besides in Simple Words
Think:
Besides = in addition to / also
For example:
Besides tea, we ordered coffee.
This means tea was one thing we ordered, and coffee was another.
What Is the Difference Between Beside and Besides?
The central difference is the relationship each word expresses.
Beside normally tells you where something or someone is.
Besides normally tells you that something else is being added or considered.
Compare these sentences:
Sarah sat beside John.
Sarah sat next to John.
Besides John, Sarah attended the meeting.
Sarah attended the meeting in addition to John.
The two words differ by only one letter, but they perform different jobs in the sentence.
Beside Means “Next To”
When you are describing physical position, beside is usually the natural choice.
Examples
The child stood beside his father.
My keys are beside the wallet.
The teacher placed the books beside the computer.
We parked beside the building.
She walked beside her sister.
You can mentally replace beside with next to:
She walked next to her sister.
The meaning stays almost the same.
Beside Can Also Describe Figurative Relationships
Not every use of beside refers to a physical object.
Consider:
His personal opinion is beside the point.
Here, beside does not mean physically next to anything. Beside the point is an established expression meaning that something is not relevant to the main issue.
Another common expression is:
She was beside herself with worry.
This means she was extremely upset or overwhelmed.
So, while beside commonly expresses physical position, it can also appear in established figurative expressions. Cambridge lists expressions such as beside yourself and beside the point.
Besides Means “In Addition To”
Use besides when you want to add another person, object, activity, subject, or idea.
For example:
Besides mathematics, he studies science.
This means:
In addition to mathematics, he studies science.
Another example:
Besides Sarah, three other students joined the discussion.
Here, Sarah is one person involved, and the other students are additional people.
More Examples
- Besides coffee, we bought tea.
- What do you do besides studying?
- Besides English, she speaks Urdu.
- Is there anything else you need besides this document?
- Besides the cost, we also need to consider the time involved.
The important idea is addition.
Besides Can Also Mean “Also”
At the beginning of a sentence or clause, besides can introduce an additional reason or point.
For example:
I don’t want to go. Besides, it’s already late.
The second sentence adds another reason for not going.
You could understand the sentence as:
I don’t want to go. Also, it’s already late.
Cambridge notes that besides can be used at the beginning of a clause to add a fact or reason.
Another Example
We should leave now. Besides, the weather is getting worse.
The speaker has already given one reason and now adds another.
This use is different from:
Besides English, she studies French.
In the first example, besides works as a linking adverb. In the second, it works as a preposition.
Besides Can Mean “Apart From” or “Other Than”
This is one of the uses that can confuse learners.
Consider:
Who was there besides Ali?
Here, the question asks who else was there apart from Ali.
Another example:
What do you eat besides rice?
This asks what else you eat apart from rice.
In these sentences, besides introduces something that is treated as an additional item or an alternative to the one already mentioned.
Context matters, so don’t assume that besides always has exactly one translation.
Can Beside and Besides Be Used Interchangeably?
Usually, no.
The words may look similar, but replacing one with the other can change the meaning or make a sentence incorrect.
Compare:
The dog is beside the chair.
This means the dog is next to the chair.
Now compare:
Besides the chair, we bought a table.
This means the chair is one item and the table is an additional item.
The first sentence describes location.
The second sentence describes addition.
A Useful Editing Test
When you’re unsure, replace the word mentally.
If next to works:
beside
If in addition to works:
besides
If also works at the beginning of a clause:
besides
This simple test solves most everyday cases.
Beside or Besides With People
Both words can appear with people, which makes them especially easy to confuse.
Beside a Person
She sat beside her brother.
Meaning:
She sat next to her brother.
Besides a Person
Besides her brother, her cousin attended the event.
Meaning:
Her cousin attended in addition to her brother.
Now compare:
Who is sitting beside you?
This asks who is sitting next to you.
Who is coming besides you?
This asks who else is coming.
That pair is one of the easiest ways to understand the difference.
Beside or Besides in School and Academic Writing
Students often encounter these words in essays, reports, assignments, and exam questions.
Use beside when describing position:
The researcher placed the second sample beside the first sample.
Use besides when adding information:
Besides the primary source, the researcher examined two secondary sources.
Another example:
The student kept her dictionary beside her notebook.
Here, the word describes where the dictionary was.
Besides grammar, the course covers pronunciation and vocabulary.
Here, the word introduces additional subjects.
The distinction is useful because academic writing often contains both location descriptions and lists of additional ideas.
Beside or Besides in Everyday Conversation
Both words appear naturally in everyday English.
You might say:
Come sit beside me.
You might also say:
What can we do besides watching TV?
The first sentence describes a person’s position.
The second asks about another activity.
A Practical Conversation Example
Imagine two friends are sitting in a room.
Friend 1: Where should I sit?
Friend 2: Sit beside me.
Later:
Friend 1: What should we do besides watch a movie?
The first use concerns location. The second introduces an additional option.
Seeing the words in real conversations can make the distinction easier to remember than memorizing definitions alone.
Common Mistakes With Beside and Besides
Mistake 1: Using Besides for “Next To”
Incorrect when you mean physical location:
The bank is besides the pharmacy.
If you mean the bank is next to the pharmacy, write:
The bank is beside the pharmacy.
Mistake 2: Using Beside for “In Addition To”
If you’re adding another item, use besides:
Besides English, I study Urdu.
Not:
Beside English, I study Urdu.
The second sentence does not express the intended meaning.
Mistake 3: Confusing “Beside Me” and “Besides Me”
These sentences can mean very different things.
She sat beside me.
= She sat next to me.
Who came besides me?
= Who else came?
That final s is not decorative. It changes the word’s function and meaning.
Mistake 4: Treating Besides as Only a Preposition
In:
Besides English, he studies Arabic.
Besides is followed by a noun phrase.
But in:
Besides, we don’t have enough time.
it introduces an additional point.
Understanding this difference makes your writing more accurate.
How to Use Besides With a Comma
When besides works as a linking adverb and introduces an additional statement, punctuation helps show its role.
For example:
I don’t want to leave. Besides, it’s raining.
You may also see it inside a sentence:
It’s expensive and, besides, we don’t need it.
Cambridge notes that when besides works as a linking adverb, commas are commonly used around it in writing.
This is different from the preposition:
Besides English, she studies French.
There is no comma after besides because it directly introduces the noun phrase English.
Beside vs. Besides: Common Sentence Patterns
Understanding the patterns can make the difference much easier.
Pattern 1: Beside + person or thing
She sat beside John.
The bag is beside the chair.
Meaning: next to.
Pattern 2: Besides + person or thing
Besides John, Maria attended.
Besides English, she studies French.
Meaning: in addition to or apart from.
Pattern 3: Besides + clause
Besides, we have no time.
Meaning: also or in addition.
These patterns show why the words cannot simply be treated as different spellings of the same word.
A Simple Decision Guide: Beside or Besides?
When you’re writing, use this quick process.
Are you talking about location?
If yes, choose beside.
The phone is beside the laptop.
Are you adding another person or thing?
If yes, choose besides.
Besides the laptop, I need a charger.
Are you adding another reason or point?
If yes, choose besides.
I don’t want to buy it. Besides, it’s too expensive.
Are you asking who or what else is included?
Besides will often fit.
Who came besides John?
This decision guide is more useful than simply memorizing two definitions because it gives you a method you can apply to a new sentence.
Beside vs. Besides: Side-by-Side Examples
| Sentence | Meaning |
| She sat beside me. | She sat next to me. |
| Besides me, Sarah attended. | Sarah attended in addition to me. |
| The school is beside the park. | The school is next to the park. |
| Besides the park, we visited the museum. | The museum was another place we visited. |
| Put the book beside the lamp. | Put it next to the lamp. |
| Besides the book, bring your notebook. | Bring the notebook in addition to the book. |
| Who is standing beside you? | Who is standing next to you? |
| Who is coming besides you? | Who else is coming? |
The paired examples reveal the main distinction clearly: beside describes a relationship of position, while besides adds something to the discussion.
Beside vs. Besides: Easy Memory Tricks
You don’t need to memorize a complicated grammar rule.
Remember “side” in beside
The word beside contains side.
Think:
beside → by the side → next to
The chair is beside the table.
Remember the extra S in besides
Think of the extra s as a reminder that something extra is being added.
besides → extra information / in addition
Besides tea, we ordered coffee.
This is only a memory trick, not a grammatical rule, but it can help when you’re writing quickly.
What Does “Beside the Point” Mean?
Beside the point is a common expression meaning not relevant to the main issue.
For example:
Whether he likes the color is beside the point.
The speaker is saying that his preference about the color does not matter to the issue being discussed.
Another example:
The exact date is beside the point; what matters is what happened.
Here, beside has a figurative meaning rather than a physical one.
What Does “Beside Yourself” Mean?
Beside yourself is another established expression.
For example:
She was beside herself with worry.
It means she was extremely worried or emotionally overwhelmed.
This is worth remembering because it shows that beside can appear in figurative expressions. You should not assume that every occurrence of beside describes physical location. Cambridge also lists beside yourself as an idiomatic use.
Is Beside More Formal Than Next To?
Beside and next to can often communicate the same basic location, but beside can sound somewhat more formal or literary in some contexts. Cambridge describes beside as rather formal.
Compare:
Come sit beside me.
Come sit next to me.
Both are natural. In casual conversation, next to is often very straightforward, while beside can sound slightly more formal depending on the sentence.
This doesn’t mean beside is unnatural in everyday English. It is common and perfectly correct.
Is Besides the Same as Also?
Not always.
Besides can mean also, especially when it introduces an additional reason or point:
I don’t want to go. Besides, I’m tired.
But besides and also are not interchangeable in every grammatical position.
For example:
What languages do you speak besides English?
Here, besides means in addition to.
You would not naturally replace it with:
What languages do you speak also English?
Cambridge specifically distinguishes the ways besides and also are used.
So the meaning may overlap, but the grammar and sentence structure can differ.
Is “Besides” Always Positive?
No.
Besides simply adds information or identifies something apart from another thing. The information can be positive, negative, neutral, or simply factual.
For example:
I don’t want to go. Besides, I have work to finish.
The additional point is negative or limiting.
Another example:
Besides football, he enjoys swimming.
The additional information is neutral.
The word itself does not determine the emotional tone.
Beside or Besides: Which One Is Correct?
Both are correct words. The question is which meaning your sentence needs.
Choose beside when you mean:
- next to
- at the side of
- alongside
- in a nearby position
Choose besides when you mean:
- in addition to
- also
- apart from
- other than, depending on context
The fastest test is:
Next to? → Beside
In addition to? → Besides
Also/additional reason? → Besides
If you apply that test before submitting an essay or message, you can catch most mistakes.
Quick Practice: Choose Beside or Besides
Test yourself before looking at the answers.
- The cat is sitting ___ the sofa.
- ___ English, she studies French.
- Who is standing ___ you?
- What do you do ___ reading?
- ___ John, three other people attended.
- The pharmacy is ___ the bank.
- I don’t want to go. ___, I’m too tired.
- Put the notebook ___ the computer.
Answers
- beside
- besides
- beside
- besides
- besides
- beside
- besides
- beside
The pattern should now be clear: physical position generally calls for beside, while addition or another point calls for besides.
A Final Editing Checklist
Before you publish, submit, or send a sentence containing one of these words, ask:
- Does beside mean next to here?
- Does besides mean in addition to?
- Am I adding another reason or point?
- Am I asking about someone or something else?
- Does the sentence describe physical position?
- Have I accidentally added or removed the final s?
- Does the surrounding sentence make the intended meaning clear?
If the answer is clear, your word choice is probably correct.
Frequently Asked Questions About Beside or Besides
What is the easiest way to remember beside and besides?
Remember beside = next to and besides = in addition to. If you are describing where something is, use beside. If you are adding another person, thing, reason, or idea, use besides.
What is the difference between “beside me” and “besides me”?
Beside me means next to me. Besides me usually means in addition to me or other than me, depending on context. For example, “She sat beside me” describes location, while “Who came besides me?” asks who else came.
Can besides mean “except”?
Depending on context, besides can mean apart from or other than. In “Who came besides Ali?” it asks who came in addition to or apart from Ali.
Can besides be used at the beginning of a sentence?
Yes. Besides can begin a sentence or clause when it introduces an additional reason or point. For example, “I don’t want to go. Besides, it’s already late.”
Can beside be used for people?
Yes. Beside can describe one person’s position next to another person. For example, “She stood beside her father.”
Is beside the same as next to?
In its common location-related use, yes. Beside means at the side of or next to something or someone.
Is besides the same as in addition to?
Often, yes. Besides can mean in addition to, as in “Besides English, he speaks Urdu.” It can also work as a linking adverb meaning something like “also” or “in addition.”
Is “beside” formal English?
It is standard English and can be used in everyday and formal writing. In some contexts, it can sound somewhat more formal than next to.
What does “beside the point” mean?
Beside the point means not relevant to the main issue. For example, “His opinion about the color is beside the point” means that opinion does not affect the main issue.
What does “beside yourself” mean?
Beside yourself is an idiomatic expression used when someone is extremely upset, worried, excited, or emotionally overwhelmed. For example, “She was beside herself with worry.”
Why do people confuse beside and besides?
They look and sound very similar, and the only spelling difference is the final s. However, their common meanings differ: beside relates mainly to position, while besides commonly adds information or another item.
Final Takeaway
The difference between beside and besides is small in spelling but important in meaning.
Use beside when you mean next to, alongside, or at the side of something or someone:
The child sat beside his mother.
Use besides when you mean in addition to, also, or apart from:
Besides English, she studies Urdu.
When you’re unsure, don’t guess from the spelling. Test the meaning.
Next to → beside.
In addition to → besides.
Another reason or point → besides.
Once you connect each word with its purpose, the extra s becomes much easier to remember.
Editorial Note
This guide focuses on standard contemporary English usage and explains the words according to their grammatical role and common meanings. Dictionary and grammar references were checked for the core distinctions and usage points.
I am Adrian Mercer, a writer who enjoys turning complex ideas into simple, practical guidance. I write about everyday questions, useful information, personal growth, and topics that help readers make better-informed decisions. My goal is to create clear and trustworthy content that readers can understand and apply in real life. I believe good guidance should be simple, useful, and easy to follow.
Books:
- The Practical Guide to Better Decisions
- Everyday Wisdom for Modern Life
Celeste Rowan
Marlowe Bennett
Nolan Everhart