Side by side with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "side by side with" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe two or more things or people being together or in close proximity, often in a supportive or collaborative context. Example: "The two teams worked side by side with each other to complete the project." Alternative expressions include "together with" and "alongside."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

"We work side by side with them".

The New York Times

He could stand side by side with his brother.

The Guardian - Books

They ran side by side, with mirror image form.

The New York Times - Sports

She still misses working side by side with colleagues.

The New Yorker

These are people that we are side by side with.

The New York Times - Magazine

Packed side by side with Sunday school prizes (John Cotton..

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

There, the company compared Wire side-by-side with Snapchat.

TechCrunch

His vehicles ran side-by-side with private cars.

BBC

Organic and paid entries into the panel can appear side-by-side, with ads marked "sponsored".

TechCrunch

You can view photos side-by-side with emails, too, Microsoft says.

TechCrunch

All of these actions are occurring side-by-side with public sector efforts.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In digital or design contexts, use this phrase to describe literal comparison layouts, such as displaying two images at the same time.

Common error

Avoid using "side by side with" as a mere synonym for 'compared to' if the items are not actually being presented or working together. While it can imply comparison, its primary strength is the sense of co-existence or teamwork.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "side by side with" functions as a complex prepositional phrase that modifies verbs or nouns to indicate proximity or cooperation. According to Ludwig AI, it often acts adverbially to describe the manner in which an action is performed, such as working or standing.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academic

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "side by side with" is a robust and flexible English expression used to denote cooperation, equality and proximity. Analysis from Ludwig shows it is particularly prevalent in journalism and professional writing to describe joint ventures or physical comparisons. With a high expert rating and consistent usage across top-tier sources like The New York Times, it remains a reliable choice for writers looking to convey partnership or literal closeness without the formality of technical terms like "in conjunction with".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

alongside

A more concise preposition that functions similarly in both physical and collaborative contexts.

together with

Emphasizes the act of being in a group or performing an action collectively.

along with

A simpler alternative that indicates accompaniment but carries less emphasis on literal proximity.

in tandem with

Suggests working together in a highly synchronized or coordinated manner.

shoulder to shoulder with

A more figurative and emotive idiom often used to imply solidarity or shared hardship.

hand in hand with

Implies a very close, often causal or deeply integrated relationship between two things.

in collaboration with

Specifically denotes a professional or creative partnership.

in conjunction with

Often used in more formal or technical contexts to describe things happening at the same time.

adjacent to

Strictly denotes physical closeness or being next to something, without the collaborative nuance.

abreast of

Used primarily when moving at the same speed or keeping up with information/trends.

FAQs

How do I use "side by side with" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe people working together, as in 'The researchers worked "side by side with" the engineers', or physical placement, like 'The cars were parked "side by side with" each other'.

What can I say instead of "side by side with"?

Depending on the context, you can use "alongside", "together with", or the more figurative "shoulder to shoulder with".

Is "side by side with" correct in formal writing?

Yes, it is perfectly correct and commonly found in high-quality publications like "The New York Times" and "The Guardian".

What is the difference between "side by side with" and "in tandem with"?

While both imply coordination, "in tandem with" often suggests one following the other or a strict sequence, whereas "side by side with" emphasizes equal presence or lateral proximity.