beside the point

[dichelson]

Hello: in the following passage I'm not sure about the meaning of "beside the point":

(here Steve is talking to himself) "The dragon has the advantage, his logical mind insisted. I want him, his soul answered. He can see in here, you can't. I'll be careful, he argued. The fact that he was terrified was beside the point".

Thank you for your help.

 

[bibliolept]

If something is "beside the point," it is irrelevant to the current discussion or has no effect.

Think of it this way: if the "point" is the central issue, the focus, the important part, then something that is beside it is to the side, separate, and therefore not the focus.

 

[dichelson]

Thanks a lot!

 

[JungKim]

If something is "beside the point," it is irrelevant to the current discussion or has no effect.

Think of it this way: if the "point" is the central issue, the focus, the important part, then something that is beside it is to the side, separate, and therefore not the focus.

Then, it shouldn't be "besides the point", which also seems to be in use among native speakers??

 

[HumbleUser]

I don't know if native speakers use besides the point, however beside the point sounds better to me.

 

[Cagey]

I agree with HumbleUser. We would only say 'beside the point'.

Beside is a preposition meaning 'next to'. When something is 'beside the point', it is next to the point and not on the point, where it is supposed to be.

Besides means 'in addition to'. It may seem possible to say something like 'that's besides the point', meaning 'that's in addition to the point', but we don't don't say that. We would express the idea in a different way.

Here is a thread that will help: Beside and besides.