Beside vs Besides: Which One Do You Need?
Beside means next to. Besides means in addition to, or apart from.
Sit beside me. Besides, it is too late.
The test that settles it
The s adds something. Beside is position; besides adds an item or an argument.
“He stood ___ the door” → a position, so beside.
“___ the cost, there is the delay” → adding a second point, so besides.
Beside: next to
A preposition of place. It puts one thing physically or figuratively alongside another.
The lamp is beside the bed.
She sat beside her sister.
His work stands well beside the best of it.
Swap in next to. If it works, beside.
Besides: in addition, or apart from
Either a preposition meaning as well as, or an adverb introducing a further argument.
Besides the fee, there is postage.
Nobody came besides us.
It is late. Besides, I am tired.
Swap in in addition to or anyway. If either works, besides.
Side by side
| Beside | Besides |
|---|---|
| Position | Addition or exclusion |
| Preposition only | Preposition or adverb |
| Swaps with next to | Swaps with as well as |
| Stood beside her | Besides, it is raining |
The exceptions
The fixed phrase beside yourself means overwhelmed with an emotion — beside herself with worry. It takes the position word, not the plural.
The image is of being so affected that you have stepped outside yourself.
Also fixed, and also the position word: something irrelevant sits alongside the argument rather than inside it.
Where people get it wrong
| Incorrect | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Come and sit besides me. | Come and sit beside me. | A position. |
| Beside the rent, there are bills. | Besides the rent, there are bills. | Adding an item. |
| She was besides herself. | She was beside herself. | A fixed phrase with the position word. |
| That is besides the point. | That is beside the point. | Also fixed. |
Practice — choose the right word, then check yourself.
- He parked ___ the entrance.
- ___ being expensive, it is slow.
- Who was there ___ the two of you?
- She was ___ herself with joy.
- It is far. ___, I have no car.
Show the answers
1. beside 2. Besides 3. besides 4. beside 5. Besides
Frequently asked
Is the difference disappearing?
In speech the two are often swapped, but in writing the distinction still holds and readers notice it.
Which one in “besides that”?
The plural, when you mean apart from that or in addition to that.
More words people confuse
