Beside vs. Besides
“Beside” is a preposition meaning next to or at the side of. “Besides” most often means in addition to and can function as a preposition or linking adverb. The extra -s therefore marks a real meaning and grammar difference, not a spelling variant.
Use “beside” for “next to”: “Sit beside me.” Use “besides” for “in addition to” or “also”: “Besides tea, we served coffee” or “Besides, we were late.”
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning/job | Use | Example pattern |
|---|---|---|
| next to / at the side of | beside | beside the door |
| in addition to + noun phrase | besides | besides the cost |
| also / furthermore linking a statement | besides | Besides, we had no time. |
Choose by meaning and grammatical role, not by whether the following noun “sounds right.”
Quick tests
Next-to test
Can you replace the word with “next to” without changing the meaning?
If yes: Use “beside.”
If no: If you mean “in addition to” or “also,” use “besides.”
Examples
She sat beside the window.
Beside means next to.
Besides the fee, there are taxes.
Besides means in addition to.
Besides, we already agreed.
Besides functions as a linking adverb meaning furthermore.
Further guidance
Beside
Cambridge describes beside as a preposition meaning next to or at the side of someone or something.
Besides
Besides can be a preposition meaning in addition to, or a linking adverb meaning also/furthermore.
Register note
Cambridge notes that beside in the physical “next to” sense can sound relatively formal compared with alternatives such as next to.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Beside or besides? (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary Grammar · Beside/besides meaning and grammatical-role distinction