Aid and aide are both words that we use when we write about help. But they are used slightly differently. This post will help you understand when to use aid and when to use aide.
Aid
Aid can be used as a noun (a naming word) and as a verb (an action word).
Aid Used as a Noun
As a noun, aid means help or the means by which help is given .
Here are some examples of aid used as a noun in a sentence.
My cane is a great aid when I walk over uneven ground.
The nurse offered first aid to the injured woman.
Bob Geldof formed Band Aid in 1984 to raise money for Ethiopian famine relief.
There are several synonyms for aid, including:
Help
Support
Backing
Encouragement
Guidance
Aid Used as a Verb
As a verb, aid expresses the act of helping. The synonyms we listed above can also act as synonyms for aid as a verb.
To help
To support
To back
To encourage
To guide
Here are some examples of aid used as a verb in a sentence.
My cane aids me when I walk over uneven ground.
A nurse will aid any injured person.
Bob Geldof formed Band Aid in 1984 and aided Ethiopian famine relief.
Aide
Aide is only used as a noun, and it has three main meanings.
1 An assistant to an important person, especially to a political leader
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A former aide to the country’s leader sold his story to the newspapers.
2 A shortened form of aide-de-camp, who is a high-ranking military officer
The general summoned his aide-de-camp to a briefing before the battle.
3 A person employed as an assistant or auxiliary (mainly in American English)
James is working as an aide to Mr. Proctor, an elderly man who needs care at home.
Summary
Aid and aide sound exactly the same and have similar meanings but can’t always be used interchangeably.
Aid used as a noun means help, support, or assistance.
Aid used as a verb means to help, to support, to assist, and it expresses the action of helping.
Aide is the name (noun) we give to an important person’s assistant, to a high-ranking military officer, or to someone employed as an assistant or auxiliary, particularly in the health sector in the United States.
FAQs
What is the term for words that sound the same but are spelled differently, such as aid and aide?
Those are called homophones. You can read more about them here.
How can I be sure that I’ve used aid and aide correctly?
Our experts will be happy to come to your aid and check your writing for you!