Beside or Besides: Definition, Synonyms, and Usage
beside or besides – Definition and Part of Speech
The word beside can function both as a preposition and an adverb, primarily denoting physical proximity. It means “next to” or “at the side of.” The phrase besides, also serving as a conjunction, preposition, or adverb, implies additional information—often translated as “in addition to” or “apart from.”
Core Synonyms
Here are some main synonyms for beside and besides, presented with their nuances:
| Synonym | Brief Definition/Nuance | Example Sentence | Style/Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| alongside | Suggests parallel proximity; often used interchangeably with beside. | “The bike was parked alongside the car.” | Formal/Informal |
| adjacent to | Emphasizes closeness or being next to something. | “Our office is located adjacent to theirs.” | Academic, Business |
| next to | Directly implies physical proximity, often interchangeable with beside in common usage. | “She sat next to her friend at the concert.” | Casual/Informal |
| apart from | Emphasizes exclusion or separation when used as besides. | “Apart from John’s efforts, no one else contributed.” | Formal/Business |
| other than | Focuses on distinguishing something different, often used similarly to besides. | “Other than the missing files, everything was in order.” | Academic/Formal |
Usage Notes
- Alongside: Useful in both formal and informal contexts when you want to indicate parallel positioning without necessarily implying a physical touching. Common in business or technical writing.
- Business Writing: “The marketing campaign ran alongside our product launch.”
- Adjacent to: Best used in situations where precision is key, particularly in academic or architectural contexts.
- Academic Papers: “The research facility was built adjacent to the university campus.”
- Next to: Universally understood and can be applied across various registers from casual conversations to written reports.
- Casual Speech: “We grabbed a table next to the window for some fresh air.”
- Apart from / Other than: Useful when you need to highlight exceptions or exclusions. Frequently used in both formal writing and spoken language to introduce contrasting points.
- Business/Professional Emails: “Apart from budget constraints, the project timeline is on track.”
- Formal Writing: “Other than the minor errors, your essay was thoroughly impressive.”
Common Pitfalls
- Confusing ‘beside’ with ‘besides’: A frequent error arises when students use these interchangeably without considering their distinct meanings. Remember that “beside” refers to physical positioning (next to), whereas “besides” indicates addition or exclusion.
- Contextual Misapplication: Using synonyms like “alongside” or “adjacent to” in contexts where informal expressions (“next to”) suffice can make writing seem unnecessarily formal or stiff, unless a high level of precision is required.
Final Recap
Beside and besides are versatile prepositions/conjunctions that denote proximity and additional information respectively. Their synonyms—alongside, adjacent to, next to, apart from, and other than—offer nuanced alternatives based on context. While “beside” emphasizes physical closeness (e.g., beside, alongside), “besides” focuses on inclusion or exclusion (e.g., besides, apart from). Understanding these nuances allows for more precise language use across various forms of communication.
To expand your vocabulary effectively, practice using each synonym in different contexts—whether writing an academic paper, drafting a business proposal, engaging in casual conversation, or creating creative content. This practice will help you recognize the subtle distinctions and choose the most appropriate word for any given situation.