so -does anyone really use the word 'besides'

[gabbymum]

was watching Corrie and couldn't help noticing that lots of the characters kept using the word 'besides' - for eg 'I don't want you to do it Tina. Besides, it's not normal.'

My point is, does anyone in real life ever use the word 'besides' in normal conversation? It was bugging me because I don't think anyone actually says it. They would say 'Anyway, it's not normal' iyswim

Are TV scriptwriters getting it wrong or are there lots of people who use that word and I've never met them?

[Mcnorton]

Umm, I use it. Now I'm wondering if I'm weird!

[PandaNot]

I do. And I think lots of people I know do to, but I've never really thought about it.

[puds11]

Yes

[BroomForMyChin]

Yes I use it and so do lots of people I know...

[BillyBollyBandy]

I say "besides which" so "Mary is allergic to horses, and besides which, she can't ride anyway"

Does that make me odd?

[kittyandthegoldenfontanelles]

I use it all the time. It's perfectly normal. Besides, besides, besides.

[Squeegle]

Besides which I think I'm quite normal to use it

[KurriKurri]

I do quite often. But I also say 'Heavens to Betsy' and 'tell that to the marines', so maybe I'm odd.

[deleted203]

I say, 'To be fair'....as in, I don't want you to do it Tina. To be fair, it's not normal. Is that normal?

[RuleBritannia]

Mary's coming to the wedding besides John.

It sort of means 'in addition to' or 'apart from'.

[fairyfriend]

Where are you from OP? Has it not occurred to you that it's a dialect thing?

[BillyBollyBandy]

I like "heavens to Betsy"

I may start using that. A little more refined than "Oh Bollocks"

[gabbymum]

fairy - you are right, it could be a dialect thing. I'm from the north west but then that is where Corrie is based.

soworn - to be fair does sound more normal to me

Maybe I just need to start incorporating the word besides into my vocabulary. Don't want to sound out of touch!!

[MarysBeard]

Yes. In the same way as aforementioned in Corrie. I use "aforementioned" too, look :)

[gabbymum]

I'm liking the word 'aforementioned' Mary. Will include that too.

[whathasthecatdonenow]

We use it all the time up here in the North West. Besides which, I also like whilst, amongst and amok.

[FionaOJ]

North west here too, I use it sometimes!

[Tee2072]

You mean, besides me?

Cannot believe no one else said that yet.

[CaliforniaLeaving]

Yes I use it too, we are a North West family here

[MarysBeard]

You can use it at the end of a sentence too. "And more, besides!"

[phoenixrose314]

Yep, I use it. Not a lot, but it's definitely in my vocabulary and I'm a Kentish lass ;)

[aldiwhore]

I use it. I'm from SouthWest/NorthWest...

[Bluestocking]

I use "besides". "Notwithstanding" is good too. Can't stand "whilst" though.

[Inneedofbrandy]

I say "but that's beside the point" That is the only time I use it.

[whathasthecatdonenow]

Furthermore is a firm favourite too.