3.13.2008

Beside & besides

Beside is a preposition meaning 'at the side of, 'by', 'next to':

Who's the big guy sitting beside Jane?

Besides can be used as a preposition with a similar meaning to as well as, to add new information to what is already known:

Besides literature, we have to study history and philosophy.

Who was at the party besides Jack and the Bensons?


Besides can also be used as a discourse marker meaning 'also', 'as well', 'in any case'. It is often used to add a stronger, more conclusive argument to what has gone before. In this case, besides usually goes at the beginning of a clause:

I don't like those shoes; besides, they're too expensive.

It's too late to go out now. Besides, it's starting to rain.

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