Key Difference

• “Beside” (without the “s”) usually means next to or by the side of.
• “Besides” (with the “s”) can mean in addition to or apart from.

Let’s dive into each one in more detail.

1. “Beside”

• Meaning: It typically means next to or at the side of something or someone.
• Use: It’s used when talking about physical location or proximity.

Examples:

• “She sat beside her friend at the concert.”
  (Meaning: She was sitting next to her friend.)
• “There’s a park beside the school.”
  (Meaning: The park is located next to the school.)

2. “Besides”

• Meaning: This word can mean in addition to or apart from something.
• Use: It’s often used to add extra information or to exclude something.

Examples:

• “Besides soccer, he enjoys playing basketball.”
  (Meaning: In addition to soccer, he also likes basketball.)
• “No one was at the party besides the hosts.”
  (Meaning: Apart from the hosts, no one else was there.)

Common Mistakes and Tips

Here’s a quick way to remember the difference:

• Think of “beside” as relating to position (next to).
• Think of “besides” as relating to additional information (like “plus” or “also”).

Practice Exercises

Let’s practice! Choose either “beside” or “besides” to complete the sentences:

1. She placed the book __________ her cup of coffee on the table.
2. __________ studying, he has a part-time job.
3. He sat __________ his sister during the movie.
4. __________ her, everyone was excited about the news.

Answers

1. She placed the book beside her cup of coffee on the table.
2. Besides studying, he has a part-time job.
3. He sat beside his sister during the movie.
4. Besides her, everyone was excited about the news.