Cool MateAlso vs Besides vs Furthermore
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Also
Besides
Furthermore
| Also | Besides | Furthermore | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈɔːlsəʊ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɔːlsəʊ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/bɪˈsaɪdz/"]/🇺🇸 /["/bɪˈsaɪdz/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌfɜːðəˈmɔː(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌfɜːrðərˈmɔːr/"]/ |
| Meaning | in addition to something else | Also; in addition to. | Also; in addition to what was said before. |
| Example | She's fluent in French and German. She also speaks a little Italian. | We have lots of things in common besides music. | He said he had not discussed the matter with her. Furthermore, he had not even contacted her. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Formal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | B2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | adverb | preposition | adverb |
| Collocations | also known as, also includes, can also be | besides the point, besides this, besides being | furthermore, it is important, furthermore, we should consider, furthermore, studies show |
| Antonyms | otherwise, differently | excluding, without | however, nevertheless |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'too' — both mean similar things but are used differently., 'Also' placed incorrectly in sentences — it generally goes before the main verb. | Using 'besides' when 'beside' (next to) is meant., Confusing 'besides' with 'beside'., Incorrectly using 'besides' with a negative statement. | Using 'furthermore' in informal speech too often., Confusing 'furthermore' with 'besides' which can have a different tone., Placing a comma before 'furthermore' incorrectly in sentence structure. |
| Usage notes | Use 'also' to add information. It is appropriate in both spoken and written English. Avoid using it at the beginning of sentences in very formal writing. | Use 'besides' to introduce additional information. It fits informal and formal contexts but is slightly more common in spoken English. Avoid using it at the beginning of a formal document. | Use 'furthermore' to add information in formal writing or speech. It's less common in casual conversation. Avoid starting sentences with it in informal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Also vs Besides vs Furthermore
What's the difference between Also, Besides, and Furthermore?
Also: in addition to something else Besides: Also; in addition to. Furthermore: Also; in addition to what was said before.
Which is more formal: Also, Besides, and Furthermore?
Furthermore is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Also, Besides, and Furthermore?
Also is the most common in everyday English.
Are Also, Besides, and Furthermore the same CEFR level?
Also: A1, Besides: B2, Furthermore: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Also, Besides, and Furthermore?
Also: adverb, Besides: preposition, Furthermore: adverb.
Can you show an example of each?
Also: She's fluent in French and German. She also speaks a little Italian. Besides: We have lots of things in common besides music. Furthermore: He said he had not discussed the matter with her. Furthermore, he had not even contacted her.
Can I use Also, Besides, and Furthermore interchangeably?
Not always. Also, Besides, and Furthermore are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.