Aid versus Aide – What’s the Gist?
These two terms have a tendency to confuse writers because they both deal with a similar subject: assistance.
- Aid can be used as either a noun or a verb and refers to the assistance you get.
- Aide is a noun and refers to the person that provides relief or assistance to others.
How to Use Aid in a Sentence
Aid definition. Aid can have multiple meanings. First, one must consider whether the word is being used as a noun or a verb. In either instance, it has to do with giving assistance to one in need or the assistance itself.
Aid can be multiple parts of speech: either a noun or a verb. In either instance, it has to do with giving assistance to one in need or the assistance itself.
For example,
- After the storms in Houston, the “Cajun Navy” provided aid (noun) by bringing their boats and rescuing those trapped inside their flooded homes.
- The president promised aid (noun) to the area devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
- Will’s sister aided (verb) him in packing for the trip.
- Nurses often aid (verb) their patients with personal care matters.
- First responders led the efforts to clean up the scene of the accident and volunteers aided (verb) as well.
How to Use Aide in a Sentence
Aide definition. Aide refers to a person that provides assistance.
Use aide when you are speaking of a person or the people who are giving help to others.
For example,
- The office has an aide who schedules all appointments with senior-level management.
Aid and aide are often confused because they are homophones. Even more, they are spelled almost identically. However, one can consider how the word is being used (as a noun or a verb) to determine which word is appropriate.
Outside Examples of Aid and Aide
- The timeline of the withholding of aid has been murky. Washington Post
- Single adults receive, on average, $200 a month in food aid. Chicago Tribunes
- She handed the case to a top aide. Chicago Tribune
- Krecia is actively involved at MCC as a math tutor and classroom accessibility aide. New York Times
Phrases that Use Aid and Aide
You might have heard the phrase “aiding and abetting,” particularly if you enjoy watching crime drama television shows. In this sense, a person who aids and abets a criminal helps or assists the criminal in carrying out a nefarious plan.
In recent years, there have been a number of natural disasters. Any help that government agencies provide to those in need is aid, be it economic aid, relief aid, financial aid, etc.
Likely you’ve heard the term Certified Nurse’s Aide, or you may even know a CNA, as they are called. An aide is a person or an organization, so this usage of aide even falls in line with the definition of the word.
Those who work as assistants are often referred to as aides. Teachers’ aides work in lower elementary schools, and White House officials typically have a number of aides to assist them in completing tasks.
How to Remember These Words
These two words can be tricky to remember since they both have to do with assistance.
- Aid refers to the assistance that you get.
- Aide refers to someone who gives assistance.
But, thankfully, there is an easy way to remember the difference between these two words that you can take with you in the future.
An aide is a person who helps you, whether it’s around the house or around the office. An easy way to remember this is that both aide and person contain the letter “E.”
Article Summary
Is aid or aide correct? Despite dealing with similar subjects and being used in similar contexts, aid and aide are never actually interchangeable with each other.
- Aid can be a noun or a verb; it refers to either the ACT of giving assistance (verb) or the act itself (noun).
- Aide refers to a person who gives the assistance. It may also refer to a charitable organization or a specially trained group of people (such as law enforcement or first responder volunteers).