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I'm never happy when I see 'besides' in a Task 2 essay.

My advice to the Members Academy is always DON'T USE 'BESIDES' as a linking word.

What's wrong with 'besides'? I can never quite explain why it's wrong but I think the meaning is not what it looks like. It looks like a synonym for 'also' but it doesn't work like that.

Sheldon puts it more simply - he says it's wrong because it's INFORMAL.

So it's wrong grammatically/in meaning (in my opinion) and also it's not formal enough for Task 2.

(Watch from 11:02)

Here are some examples that show how 'besides' usually means a mixture of 'apart from' or 'as well as' and (in some cases) 'and anyway' rather than "also':

• "I'm capable of doing the work, and a lot more besides."
• "Do you play any other sports besides basketball?"
• "The author's wife was a good editor, besides being a great writer herself."
• "There are plenty of other things to do in Gothenburg at night besides drink."
• "His real love, besides his guitar playing, is ultimately songwriting."
• "I'm much too old for you," he said, "and besides, I'm married."
• "He won’t mind if you’re late – besides, it’s not your fault."