Besides being

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Besides being" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to introduce an additional point or characteristic about a subject, often to emphasize a secondary quality or fact. Example: "Besides being an excellent musician, she is also a talented painter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Besides being your wife".

The New Yorker

Besides being organized, he is thrifty.

The New York Times

Besides being sentimental, it's beside the point.

The Guardian

Besides being antique, Presto machines are famously high-strung.

The New Yorker

Besides being inquisitive & loquacious she was more than ordinarily maternal.

The New Yorker

Besides being sweet, the dishes can be awfully busy.

The New Yorker

Besides, being a star can actually be boring sometimes.

The New York Times

Besides being inefficient, the two forces are corrupt.

The Economist

Besides being exhausting, is it all quite fulfilling for you?

The New York Times

Besides being environmentally friendly, this work makes economic sense.

The Economist

Besides being light, these smaller pumps use less power.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When listing multiple qualities, ensure that the qualities introduced by "besides being" are logically connected to the initial point for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "besides being" to introduce the most important quality. It should highlight a supplementary aspect, not the defining feature. If it is in fact the main feature, then write that and use another sentence to add the other details.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Besides being" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a gerund. It adds supplementary information about a subject, indicating an additional quality or characteristic. Ludwig shows numerous examples of this usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "Besides being" is a versatile tool for adding supplemental information and enriching descriptions. Grammatically sound and widely used, as confirmed by Ludwig, it serves to highlight additional qualities of a subject in diverse contexts. While generally neutral in tone, it's best used for characteristics that complement, rather than define, the primary subject. Ludwig’s examples underscore the phrase's applicability across News & Media, Science and Wiki sources, and it's confirmed the general correctness of this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

In addition to being

Replaces "besides" with "in addition to", emphasizing the additive nature.

Apart from being

Uses "apart from" instead of "besides", providing a slightly different nuance.

Aside from being

Similar to "apart from", but with a slightly more informal tone.

As well as being

Emphasizes the inclusion of another quality alongside the primary one.

Beyond just being

Highlights that the subject has qualities that extend beyond a simple description.

Over and above being

Suggests that the quality is significantly additional and noteworthy.

Not only being

Sets up a structure to introduce a secondary quality, often followed by "but also".

Besides the fact that it is

Changes the structure to use a clause, adding emphasis to the additional information.

On top of being

Informal alternative, suggesting an added bonus or advantage.

In conjunction with being

Formal alternative, indicating that the qualities exist simultaneously and are related.

FAQs

How can I use "Besides being" in a sentence?

You can use "Besides being" to introduce an additional quality or characteristic. For example, "Besides being intelligent, she is also very kind."

What can I say instead of "Besides being"?

You can use alternatives like "in addition to being", "apart from being", or "aside from being" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "Besides being" at the beginning of a sentence?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. For example, "Besides being effective, the new strategy is also cost-efficient."

What's the difference between "Besides being" and "In addition to being"?

Both phrases introduce an additional quality or characteristic. "Besides being" might suggest a slightly less expected or emphasized quality compared to "in addition to being", which can be a more straightforward addition.