Cool MateBeside vs Besides a miracle
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Beside
Top 1,000 (very common)B2preposition
Besides a miracle
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Beside
| Beside | Besides a miracle | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/bɪˈsaɪd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/bɪˈsaɪd/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //bɪˈsaɪdz ə ˈmɪrəkəl//🇺🇸 //bɪˈsaɪdz ə ˈmɪrəkəl// |
| Meaning | Next to or at the side of something. | In addition to a miracle |
| Example | He sat beside her all night. | Besides a miracle, the community came together to support each other. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | preposition | |
| Collocations | sit beside, stand beside, place beside | besides a reason, besides the point, besides the success |
| Antonyms | far from, away from | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'besides', which means 'in addition to', Using 'beside' when a different preposition is needed, like 'in front of', Incorrectly placing 'beside' at the end of a sentence | Using 'beside' instead of 'besides' which changes the meaning., Confusing 'besides' with 'beside', leading to incorrect context., Omitting the definite article 'a' before 'miracle'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'beside' to indicate physical position next to something. Avoid using it in more formal contexts where 'next to' might be preferred. | Use 'besides a miracle' to emphasize additional points or facts while discussing remarkable events. It's neutral, appropriate in both casual and formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Beside vs Besides a miracle
What's the difference between Beside and Besides a miracle?
Beside: Next to or at the side of something. Besides a miracle: In addition to a miracle
Which is more common: Beside and Besides a miracle?
Beside is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Beside: He sat beside her all night. Besides a miracle: Besides a miracle, the community came together to support each other.
Can I use Beside and Besides a miracle interchangeably?
Not always. Beside and Besides a miracle 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.