besides you

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "besides you" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to indicate that a person or thing is not included in the list of those mentioned or considered. For example, "We invited everyone in the office, besides you."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

And besides, you folks won".

The New York Times

And besides, you eat too fast".

The New York Times - Travel

Can people besides you understand him when he talks?

The New York Times - Health

And besides, you Americans are encouraging talks with the Taliban.

The New York Times

"And besides, you don't need to have black shoes".

The New Yorker

"Who's the class of 2008 besides you guys?" asks Leithauser.

The Guardian - Music

That girl's a deaf-mute, and a Muhammadan besides — you stay away from her".

The New Yorker

But this problem is easily remedied, and besides — you already know the words.

The New York Times

Does anyone else in your family use Twitter besides you?

TechCrunch

Firstly, says who, besides you?

Vice

And besides, you might not be teachable.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "besides you", ensure the context clearly indicates the group from which the person is being excluded. For instance, "Everyone is invited to the party, besides you and John."

Common error

Avoid using "besides you" when you actually intend to include the person in the group. Incorrect: "Besides you, who else is coming?" Correct: "Including you, who else is coming?"

Linguistic Context

The phrase "besides you" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase that modifies a statement by excluding the person addressed. As confirmed by Ludwig, it indicates that someone is not included in the list of those mentioned or considered.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

8%

Encyclopedias

6%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "besides you" is a prepositional phrase used to explicitly exclude the person being addressed from a group or activity. As Ludwig AI confirms, its function is grammatically correct, and its usage is common across varied contexts, particularly in news, media, and informal communications. When employing this phrase, ensure it clearly conveys exclusion and avoid its misuse in inclusive statements. For alternatives, consider phrases such as "apart from you" or "except for you" for similar meanings. By understanding its function and common errors, you can effectively and accurately use "besides you" in your writing and speech.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

apart from you

This alternative directly indicates an exception to a general statement, similar to "besides you" but with a slightly more formal tone.

except for you

This alternative clearly specifies an individual exclusion from a group or category, mirroring the function of "besides you" with a straightforward and direct manner.

aside from you

Similar to "apart from you", this alternative offers a close substitute but with a slightly less formal register.

other than you

While maintaining the sense of exclusion, this alternative provides a broader exception, which covers a wider range of possibilities than just the person being addressed.

excluding you

This alternative explicitly states the act of leaving someone out, emphasizing the action of exclusion more directly than the original phrase.

not including you

This alternative is a more descriptive version that clearly points out someone is not part of something. It's quite explicit in nature.

but you

This version offers a direct and brief exclusion, maintaining clarity while reducing the length of the statement.

with the exception of you

This phrase is a more formal substitute, suitable for professional contexts where precision is needed.

excluding yourself

This alternative is valid when addressing a group and specifying that the statement excludes the listener, fitting in some specific context.

save for you

This option, while uncommon, retains an archaic or literary quality, but it provides a sense of exclusion.

FAQs

How is "besides you" used in a sentence?

The phrase "besides you" is used to exclude the person you're talking to from a group or statement. For example, "Everyone is going to the concert, "besides you"."

What phrases are similar to "besides you"?

Similar phrases include "apart from you", "except for you", and "other than you", all of which indicate exclusion.

Is it grammatically correct to say "besides you"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The word "besides" functions as a preposition in this context, and it correctly modifies "you".

What's the difference between "besides you" and "including you"?

"Besides you" excludes the person being addressed, while "including you" adds that person to the group. For example, "Everyone "besides you" is invited" means you are not invited, but "Everyone including you is invited" means you are.