Confusing Words: Aid (noun/verb) and Aide (noun)
Meaning:
Aid (help, typically of a practical nature.)
Aide (an assistant to an important person, especially a political leader.)
Aid vs Aide Clarification: Aid and aide are homophones. Both of these words have different meanings.
Aid vs Aide – What is the Difference, Definition & Meanings?
As you can see that there is only one-letter difference between aid and aide. Their pronunciation is exactly alike but there is difference in spellings. So, it is very important for the writers to completely have an idea about the spellings and the usage of each word of English vocabulary.
Both of these words sound same but have different meanings. That is why, aid and aide are called ‘homophones’.
Let us check out their difference in meanings and find out their functions in sentences. I hope that after reading this post, you will never ever confuse yourselves in thinking Aid or Aide?
Definition and Examples of Aid and Aide
Both of these words came in Late Middle English from Old French. Aid is quite related to economy.
Aid
Aid is used as a noun or a verb. In both cases, it means ‘help or assistance’. You have heard about many words like financial aid, economic aid, visual aid etc. This aid is exactly the same. Examples will give you more help to understand aid as a noun and as a verb.
(As a noun)
1. I will apply for financial aid to help myself in higher studies.
2. Pakistan receives foreign aid from several countries and international organization. Reference –(Wikipedia)
(As a verb)
1. We, as volunteers, went to aid the victims of the disaster.
2. Murphy and Falchuk are aided by a strong cast including a scene-stealing Jessica Lange as the very steely magnolia next door. Reference –(Grammarist.com)
Aide
Unlike aid, aide is used as a noun only. Aide is used for a person who is ‘an assistant of a military or a political leader’. He is often an important person who serves an important person officially. So in simple words, aide means ‘an assistant, helper or an adviser’. This word is also come from French and it says that aide is the short form of ‘aide-de-camp’ means ‘a military officer acting as an assistant’.
1. I was appointed as an aide at a military office.
2. Hillary Clinton and a senior aide discussed sending a secure cell phone to the secretary of state by FedEx or a personal courier, according to emails released Thursday. Reference –(Los Angeles Daily News)
Check Out: The Difference Between Amount and Number.
Point to Remember
Do not get confused of the disease ‘AIDS’. This particular ‘aids’ is a biological term and it is the name of a disease. Do not mix it up with the words ‘aid and aide’ as it is nothing to do with our discussed words.
What Did You Learn?
Aid and aide are homophones. Both of these words have different meanings.
Aid is used as a noun or a verb and it means ‘help or assistance’.
Aide, on the other hand, is a short form for aide-de-camp and it means ‘an assistant or an adviser’.