Cool MateBesides vs Furthermore
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Besides
Top 2,000 (common)B2preposition
Furthermore
FormalTop 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Most formal: Furthermore
| Besides | Furthermore | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/bɪˈsaɪdz/"]/🇺🇸 /["/bɪˈsaɪdz/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌfɜːðəˈmɔː(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌfɜːrðərˈmɔːr/"]/ |
| Meaning | Also; in addition to. | Also; in addition to what was said before. |
| Example | 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 | Formal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | preposition | adverb |
| Collocations | besides the point, besides this, besides being | furthermore, it is important, furthermore, we should consider, furthermore, studies show |
| Antonyms | excluding, without | however, nevertheless |
| Common mistakes | 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 '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: Besides vs Furthermore
What's the difference between Besides and Furthermore?
Besides: Also; in addition to. Furthermore: Also; in addition to what was said before.
Which is more formal: Besides and Furthermore?
Furthermore is the most formal of these.
Are Besides and Furthermore the same CEFR level?
Besides: B2, Furthermore: B2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Besides and Furthermore interchangeably?
Not always. 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.