besides yourself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "besides yourself" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to someone being in a state of emotional distress or agitation, often implying that they are not in their usual state of mind. Example: "When she heard the news, she was besides herself with grief."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

"Do you love anyone besides yourself?" ("Nope").

The New Yorker

If you've ever wondered what's eating your garden besides yourself and the woodchuck, this is the book for you.

The New York Times - Books

If I have anything to say to them, it's stay out of trouble and have faith in somebody besides yourself.

The New York Times - Sports

"If you have never spent a moment thinking about a human being besides yourself, imagine trying to pretend you are doing that for a solid ninety minutes," Jackson said.

The New Yorker

Kenny R. Burck, semi-retired, a large man with the looks of a hazel-eyed, towheaded boy, took his seat on the dais at the Golden Anniversary Banquet of the Ohio Genealogical Society at a resort hotel in Huron, Ohio, and, turning to the keynote speaker, who was on his right, asked, "How many other people do you know named Ian, besides yourself?

The New Yorker

By Ian Frazier The Naked Cowboy Kenny R. Burck, semi-retired, a large man with the looks of a hazel-eyed, towheaded boy, took his seat on the dais at the Golden Anniversary Banquet of the Ohio Genealogical Society at a resort hotel in Huron, Ohio, and, turning to the keynote speaker, who was on his right, asked, "How many other people do you know named Ian, besides yourself?

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

The only surefire way to avoid violent outbursts this Turkey Day, besides jettisoning yourself from modern society altogether, is the sweet anesthesia of consuming media.

Vice

It can seem as though there's nothing you can do to help yourself besides going through cycles of application and rejection.

Science Magazine

And if no one is broadcasting, there's nothing much to do in the app at this time besides broadcast something yourself.

TechCrunch

There's a running tally of your strokes, but because there's a seemingly endless number of holes, there's no need to focus on getting that number down besides you pressuring yourself to do so.

TechCrunch

Take time for yourself besides a trip to the vending machine.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "besides yourself", ensure the context clearly indicates who is being excluded or considered in addition to others. Proper context ensures clarity in communication.

Common error

Avoid confusing "besides yourself" (excluding you) with "beside yourself" (extremely agitated). The latter refers to an emotional state, while the former refers to exclusion or addition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "besides yourself" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase used to indicate exclusion or addition. As shown by Ludwig, it modifies a noun or pronoun by specifying that someone or something is being considered separately from the person being addressed. It is commonly used to set boundaries or exceptions within a group.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Huffington Post

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

The New Yorker

3%

The New York Times

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "besides yourself" is a commonly used prepositional phrase that serves to indicate exclusion or consideration in addition to others. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage in news, media and general contexts. While acceptable in most situations, more formal alternatives like "excluding you" may be preferred in academic or professional writing. Remember to differentiate "besides yourself" (excluding you) from "beside yourself" (agitated) to avoid confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

apart from yourself

Focuses on exclusion, similar to "besides yourself", but emphasizes separation.

other than you

A more direct and less idiomatic way of saying "besides yourself".

excluding you

Directly states the act of exclusion.

not counting yourself

Emphasizes that the person is not included in a count or calculation.

yourself excluded

Places emphasis on the person being excluded.

with the exception of you

Formal way to express exclusion.

save for you

Archaic alternative implying exception.

leaving you out

Focuses on the act of omission.

you being the exception

Highlights the individual as an exception.

other people involved, but not you

A more verbose and explicit phrasing.

FAQs

How can I use "besides yourself" in a sentence?

You can use "besides yourself" to indicate that someone or something is being considered in addition to others, or to exclude yourself from a group. For example, "Who else is coming "apart from you"?" or "Is there anyone "other than you" who knows about this situation?"

What is the difference between "besides yourself" and "beside yourself"?

"Besides yourself" means in addition to or excluding you, while "beside yourself" means extremely agitated or distraught. For example, "She was "beside herself" with worry when she couldn't find her keys." These phrases have very different meanings and should not be confused.

Are there more formal alternatives to "besides yourself"?

Yes, more formal alternatives include "with the exception of you" or "excluding you". These options are suitable for professional or academic writing where precision is important.

Can "besides yourself" be used in all contexts?

While generally acceptable, "besides yourself" might sound informal in certain contexts. In very formal writing, consider using a more precise alternative such as "excluding you" or "apart from you", depending on the intended meaning.