Easy trick to remember difference between beside <-> besides

Solution 1:

"Beside" means next to, as in

He placed the umbrella beside the umbrella stand instead of in it.

"Besides" means "moreover" or "furthermore" and it is used in the same way.

"We don't want to go to the fair. Besides, we don't have enough money."

It can also mean "in addition to" as in:

Besides the entree, the entire table ordered dessert.

The trick I use is "bedside": if something is near the bed it is be[d]side it. Remove the "d" and you have beside.

Solution 2:

Being a native English speaker, I never had the need to learn a trick to remember the difference.

So, I will make one up.

• If you're using the sense of "next to", think of it as a singular place. "Beside."
• If you mean "furthermore" or "in addition to" think of it as plural. It must have an S! "Besides"