what else besides

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what else besides" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used as a way of asking for additional information or alternatives on a certain topic. For example, you could say "What else besides running can I do to stay in shape?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

What else besides tacos was on the menu?

The New York Times

What else, besides the steaks, is worth it?

The New York Times - Food

OK, so there's fair trade, but what else besides?

The Guardian

"What else, besides seeds?" "So far, nothing but seeds".

The New Yorker

What else, besides being umbilically attached to little digital devices, do consumers need to make life worth living?

The New Yorker

If Nora Ephron had been born buxom, what else besides that article might she not have written?

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

We've launched a sister company to do the mail and communications for the internet, to continue to develop Thunderbird, and to address the integration with webmail and what-else-besides-email.

The Guardian - Tech

But really, what else exists besides the projection of our mind, for us to remain the same with?

Huffington Post

Although her estimates of childhood IQ scores of historical figures who never took IQ tests have been criticized on methodological grounds, Cox's study was thorough in finding out what else matters besides IQ in becoming a genius.

Wikipedia

"What else is there besides work?

The New York Times

You know what else everyone loves besides beer?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place the excluded noun or gerund phrase immediately after "besides" to maintain logical flow and clarity

Common error

Writers sometimes mistakenly separate 'else' from 'what' or use 'besides' as a standalone connector without the interrogative pronoun. Avoid constructions like 'what besides the steak else is good' and stick to the cohesive "what else besides" unit.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what else besides" functions as a complex interrogative unit. It combines a pronoun and adverb to establish that one item is already accounted for and then utilizes a preposition to define the set being expanded. Ludwig examples confirm its role in structured inquiry within both informal speech and formal prose.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Social Media

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "what else besides" is a robust and grammatically sound phrase essential for expanding the scope of an inquiry. Ludwig AI data demonstrates its widespread utility across various genres, from high-stakes investigative journalism in The New York Times to complex scientific discussions regarding biological datasets. It is most effective when the excluded item is clearly defined, allowing the reader or listener to focus entirely on new information. Whether you are drafting a formal report or a casual query, this phrase remains a reliable tool for thoroughness and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what else other than

Uses a more common prepositional substitute for a slightly more informal tone

what other things apart from

Adds a noun phrase for greater specificity regarding the nature of the inquiry

what is there aside from

Reframes the question to focus on existence rather than just identity

anything else besides

Changes the interrogative pronoun to a more general pronoun to broaden the scope

what in addition to

Replaces the adverb with a formal prepositional phrase

what specifically aside from

Incorporates an intensifier to narrow the requested response

which other options excluding

Uses a more clinical verb to define the boundary of the set

any further items beyond

Adopts a business-oriented tone focused on quantifiable counts

besides that what else

Inverts the structure to place emphasis on the excluded item

what additionally

A more concise but less idiomatic single-word adverbial inquiry

FAQs

How to use "what else besides" in a sentence?

You can use it to ask for more information after one option is already known, for example: "what else besides tacos was on the menu?"

What can I say instead of "what else besides"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "what else other than", "what in addition to", or "what else apart from".

Is it "what else besides" or "what else beside"?

In modern English, "what else besides" is the correct form. "Besides" with an 's' means 'in addition to', whereas "beside" refers to physical location (next to).

What is the difference between "what else besides" and "what else aside from"?

The two phrases are largely interchangeable. "what else aside from" is often considered slightly more common in American English, while "what else besides" is universal across all dialects.