Have you heard people use the word “besides” in conversation?
Does this seem very similar to you as the word “also”?
If you find yourself questioning the difference between the two then you are not alone.
You want to see how you can use each in English?
We’re going to look at how to use each and which one is appropriate at any given tie.
Slight Differences Can Be Somewhat Confusing
The difference between these words can be slightly confusing, so we want to clear it up.
Though it may seem as if the differences are minor, you should understand what they are.
This can help you to use each one properly or interchange them as you like.
Besides
- In addition to
- ” I have so much to do tonight. Besides all my homework, I have to make phone calls for my job!”
- Except for/other than
- “I have nothing to do tonight besides just relaxing and watching TV. It’s so nice.”
- Moreover (this could be where the confusion is)
- “Why do we have to go to this party? Besides, our best friends won’t even be there anyhow.”
Also
- And, in addition to, moreover, too
- “I also love going to the park in the summer.”
- “Are you reading that book? It’s my favorite!”
- “I watched a movie and also called my friend.”
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Simple Rules Can Help
We don’t want to get too deep into grammar because it is confusing, but just walk away with one major piece of information to help.
When you use besides, it’s more of an explanation.
For example: “No, I don’t have a car. Besides, having a car is just an expensive hassle in the city.
This is a good explanation here so besides fits best.
You could say, also, having a car is just an expensive hassle in the city, but it would not have the same effect.
Think of the purpose or intention of either and it will help you to understand which works better.
Some Examples Can Help
Though you can often see either word in a sentence, you can usually see a better choice.
Here are some good examples to help you in determining which is better.
- “We need to buy milk. Oh,________ we need chips!”
- Answer- ALSO, not an explanation
- “We need to buy milk. ___________, I can’t drink black coffee anymore. It’s gross!”
- BESIDES- this is an explanation of one of the reasons this person needs to buy milk
- “I’ve never taken a cooking class. ____________, it’s so expensive to take classes in this area.”
- Answer- BESIDES- explanation
- “I’ve never taken a cooking class. ________________, I’ve never taken any classes at that community college.”
- ALSO-not an explanation, just more information
Takeaway
It’s a very simple and often confusing two words that are often used interchangeably.
Though you may not necessarily see a difference at first, think of the key difference here.
Think of one as an explanation and the other as an inclusion.
Practice using these two in conversations and it will begin to come naturally to you.
If you have any questions, please leave them below in the comments section.
We’ll get back with to you as soon as we can.
