Beside vs Besides: Next To or In Addition?

Beside normally means “next to”; besides normally means “in addition to” or “anyway.” One final s changes the relationship completely.

Beside

She sat beside me. The charger is beside the laptop. The meaning is physical or metaphorical proximity.

Besides as a preposition

Besides English, he speaks Kazakh and Russian. = in addition to English.

Besides as a linking adverb

I don’t want to go. Besides, I have work to finish. Here it adds another supporting reason.

Beside the point

The idiom beside the point means irrelevant: Whether it was expensive is beside the point.

Professional style

Besides is useful but can sound conversational in formal argument. Depending on context, alternatives include in addition, moreover, furthermore.

Memory rule

Beside = next to. Besides = additionally.

Quick practice

Choose: The notebook is ___ the laptop. / ___ grammar, she is studying pronunciation. / I am tired; ___, the weather is getting worse.

Answers: beside; Besides; besides.

Takeaway

The final s is meaningful: beside locates something next to another thing; besides adds information.