Certain sets of words in the English language tend to confuse writers. I have found the following to be among them:
BESIDE / BESIDES
As prepositions, beside usually means next to or by the side of whereas besides means except or other than. Beside can also mean irrelevant.
INCORRECT: Come sit besides me.
CORRECT: Come sit beside me.
INCORRECT: That’s besides the point.
CORRECT: That’s beside the point.
INCORRECT: No one beside me was in the house. I was all alone.
CORRECT: No one besides me was in the house. I was all alone.
Remember that beside can mean by the side of something or someone, and side is singular with no S on the end.
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