[寫作] Don't misuse "besides"!

學術英文寫作講求結構嚴謹、有脈絡可循、用字精準，畢竟學術英語和一般生活英語還是有所區別；為了避免跳躍式思考的敘事方式並提高段落之間的連貫性，寫作時，我們常用一些功能詞 (Function words; Grammatical words) 以輔助說明順序和邏輯關係 --- 然而，混用或誤用“besides”和“in addition to” 卻幾乎是台灣學生的「必犯錯誤」；以下我們用幾個簡單的例子向同學說明：就段落或句意之協調性與修辭效果而言，“besides”和“in addition to”有何差異、為什麼雅思考試、學術寫作應避免使用“besides” 。 

One of the most frustrating errors I see in my clients’ writing is how they misuse the word “besides”. Apparently in Taiwan students are taught in school that the term “besides” is synonymous with “in addition to” or "moreover." This is incorrect. Compare the following sentences:

Person A: “So, is it true that Sofi and you are moving to Japan?”

Person B: “Yes, that’s right.”

Person A: “So why are you moving?”

Person B: “Sofi has the opportunity for a promotion by taking up a position with her company at their Japan office. In addition, I can find very lucrative work there.”

In the final statement of Person B the term “in addition” functions somewhat as a conjunction like “and.” The first sentence of his answer states a main reason why, while the second sentence states a second congruent and compatible reason and they both together answer the question. Now compare this alternative answer:

Person B: “Sofi has the opportunity for a promotion by taking up a position with her company at their Japan office. Besides, I've always wanted to live in Japan.”

In this alternative answer, the second sentence starting with “besides” introduces a secondary and not necessarily congruent or compatible reason.

That is the true function of “besides” and no native speaker of English will use it in any other way.

Here’s another example:

“So, who’s the other woman in your life besides your wife?” (Gloss: do you have a mistress?)

Compare that with:

“So, who’s the other woman in your life in addition to your wife?” (Gloss: what other woman is important in your life, maybe your mother, sister or a close female friend who is your coworker, etc.?)

“Besides” indicates an alternative and incongruous character or content to the subject of the sentence.

So, the next time you are writing in English and you want to build a case by suggesting your reason is all compatible, build logically, and sequentially, never use the term “besides” in your writing.