Is It Beside or Besides? Difference, Examples, and Easy Rule
Beside means next to or at the side of something. Besides means in addition to, or except for. If you are choosing between these words, start with the meaning of the sentence, not with the sound of the word.
- The lamp is beside the bed.
- Besides coffee, we also served tea.
These two words are easy to confuse because English often has similar-looking or similar-sounding words with different jobs. The safe rule is simple: use beside when you mean next to or at the side of something; use besides when you mean in addition to, or except for.
Beside vs. Besides at a glance
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| beside | preposition | next to or at the side of something | The lamp is beside the bed. |
| besides | preposition or adverb | in addition to, or except for | Besides coffee, we also served tea. |
Quick rule:
- Beside = next to or at the side of something.
- Besides = in addition to, or except for.
- When the sentence sounds confusing, replace the word with its definition.
When to use beside
Use beside when your sentence is about next to or at the side of something. This word is the natural choice when that meaning is the main idea.
Examples:
- The lamp is beside the bed.
- The writer chose beside because the sentence means next to or at the side of something.
- A reader would expect beside in this context.
- If the sentence is not about next to or at the side of something, check whether besides is correct.
A good test is to ask, “Can I explain this sentence using the phrase next to or at the side of something?” If yes, beside is probably the word you need.
When to use besides
Use besides when your sentence is about in addition to, or except for. This word gives the sentence a different meaning from beside, so the two should not be used as casual substitutes.
Examples:
- Besides coffee, we also served tea.
- The word besides is correct because the sentence means in addition to, or except for.
- Using beside here would change the meaning.
- In edited writing, choose the word that matches the exact idea.
This matters in school writing, business emails, applications, and everyday messages because one wrong word can make a sentence look careless.
The easiest memory trick
Beside means next to. Besides adds extra information.
You can also remember the difference with this question:
> Is the sentence about next to or at the side of something, or is it about in addition to, or except for?
That meaning-first test is more reliable than spelling from sound.
Common phrases with beside
- beside the bed
- beside me
- beside the road
- sit beside someone
Examples:
- The phrase beside the bed uses beside because it connects to next to or at the side of something.
- The phrase beside me follows the same pattern.
- If you memorize common phrases, you will make fewer spelling and word-choice mistakes.
Common phrases with besides
- besides that
- besides coffee
- besides the cost
- who besides you
Examples:
- The phrase besides that uses besides because it connects to in addition to, or except for.
- The phrase besides coffee is another common use.
- When a phrase looks unfamiliar, check the meaning before choosing the word.
Common mistakes and corrections
| Incorrect | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The lamp is besides the bed. | The lamp is beside the bed. | The sentence needs beside because it means next to or at the side of something. |
| Beside coffee, we also served tea. | Besides coffee, we also served tea. | The sentence needs besides because it means in addition to, or except for. |
More corrections:
- Incorrect: I chose the word only because it sounded right.
- Correct: I chose the word because its meaning matched the sentence.
- Incorrect: I used one spelling for both meanings.
- Correct: I kept beside and besides separate.
The same context-first habit also helps with Adapt vs. Adopt and Affect vs. Effect. For a wider set of examples in this topic, use the Similar Words archive as the category grows.
More example sentences
Examples with beside:
- The lamp is beside the bed.
- The editor explained why beside was the better word.
- In this sentence, beside gives the reader the right meaning.
- The sentence would be less clear if besides appeared here.
Examples with besides:
- Besides coffee, we also served tea.
- The teacher marked the sentence correct because besides matched the meaning.
- In this context, besides is not interchangeable with beside.
- The correct choice depends on what the sentence is trying to say.
Quick quiz
Choose the correct word.
- The lamp is beside the bed.
- Besides coffee, we also served tea.
- Which word means next to or at the side of something: beside or besides?
- Which word means in addition to, or except for: beside or besides?
Answers:
- beside
- besides
- beside
- besides
FAQ
Is beside the same as besides?
No. beside means next to or at the side of something, while besides means in addition to, or except for. They may look or sound similar, but they do not mean the same thing.
How do I remember beside vs. besides?
Use the meaning test. Ask what the sentence is really saying, then choose the word that matches that meaning.
Which word should I use in American English?
Use the word that matches the meaning. If one spelling or form is more common in American English, the guide above notes that preference.
Can these words appear in formal writing?
Yes. Both words can appear in formal writing when used correctly. The key is to avoid mixing them up.
Final tip
Do not choose between beside and besides by sound alone. Choose by meaning. If the sentence means next to or at the side of something, use beside. If it means in addition to, or except for, use besides.
In everyday writing, beside usually answers “where?” and besides usually adds another idea. If someone sits beside you, they are next to you. If someone says “besides that,” they are adding more information.