If you’ve ever paused mid-sentence wondering whether to say “I look forward to working alongside you” or “working alongside with you,” you’re dealing with one of the most common small grammar mix-ups in professional English. It shows up in emails, cover letters, LinkedIn messages, and everyday conversation.
This guide settles the debate for good, explains the grammar behind it, and gives you plenty of real-world examples so you’ll never second-guess yourself again.
Work Alongside You vs Work Alongside With You – Quick Answer
“Work alongside you” is correct. “Work alongside with you” is redundant and considered nonstandard in English.
The word “alongside” already means “together with” or “next to,” so adding “with” after it repeats the same idea twice. Standard English style guides, professional writing conventions, and native-speaker usage all favor the shorter, cleaner phrase: “work alongside you.”
Work Alongside You vs Work Alongside With You: What’s the Difference?
The difference comes down to redundancy. “Alongside” is a preposition that already includes the meaning of “with.” Pairing it with an additional “with” creates a repeated meaning, similar to saying “return back” or “join together.”
Why “Work Alongside You” Is the Standard Phrase
“Work alongside you” is grammatically complete on its own. “Alongside” functions as a preposition that connects directly to its object (“you”), so no additional connecting word is needed. This is the version you’ll find in professional emails, job postings, resumes, and published writing.
Why “Work Alongside With You” Sounds Redundant
Adding “with” after “alongside” duplicates the meaning the word already carries. It doesn’t create a grammar error in the strictest sense, but it reads as unnecessary repetition — the kind of phrasing native speakers instinctively simplify.
What Does “Alongside” Mean?
To understand why the extra “with” is unnecessary, it helps to break down what “alongside” actually means and how it functions in a sentence.
Alongside as a Preposition
As a preposition, “alongside” connects a subject to an object, describing a position or relationship — physically or figuratively. Example: “She parked her car alongside mine.”
Alongside as an Adverb
“Alongside” can also function as an adverb, describing how something is positioned without needing a direct object. Example: “The two boats sailed alongside.”
Alongside Meaning “Together With”
In professional and everyday contexts, “alongside” most often means “together with” or “in cooperation with,” especially when talking about people working toward a shared goal. This is exactly why “alongside” alone is sufficient — it already communicates partnership.
Why Do We Say “Work Alongside You”?
The Grammar Behind the Phrase
In “work alongside you,” “alongside” acts as the preposition linking the verb “work” to the object “you.” No additional preposition is required because “alongside” already establishes the relationship between the two parties.
Alongside Already Expresses Togetherness
Because “alongside” inherently means “together with,” it does the job that “with” would otherwise do. Using both is like saying “together with together” — the second instance adds nothing new.
Why an Extra “With” Is Usually Unnecessary
Style guides generally advise cutting redundant words to keep writing clear and concise. Since “alongside” already implies “with,” most editors and grammar authorities recommend dropping the extra “with” entirely.
Is “Work Alongside With You” Ever Correct?
Standard English Usage
In formal or standard English, “work alongside with you” is not considered correct. It’s viewed as a redundancy rather than a grammatically valid construction.
Informal or Nonstandard Speech
That said, you may still hear “alongside with” in casual speech, particularly from non-native English speakers whose first language structures similar phrases differently. It’s understandable in context, even if it’s not the preferred form.
When “Alongside With” May Appear in Writing
Occasionally, “alongside with” appears in informal writing, social media posts, or translated content. While readers will still understand the meaning, it’s best avoided in professional or polished writing.
Work Alongside You: Meaning and Examples
“Work alongside you” simply means working together, collaborating, or being on the same team as someone. Here’s how it looks across different contexts.
Workplace Examples
- “I’m excited to work alongside you on this new project.”
- “It’s been a pleasure to work alongside such a talented team.”
- “She has worked alongside the marketing department for years.”
Everyday Conversation Examples
- “I loved working alongside you during the fundraiser.”
- “It was great working alongside you at the volunteer event.”
Professional Writing Examples
- “Our team looks forward to working alongside your organization to achieve shared goals.”
- “He has worked alongside industry leaders to develop new strategies.”
Email Examples
- “I’m thrilled at the opportunity to work alongside you starting next month.”
- “Thank you for the chance to work alongside such a dedicated team.”
Work Alongside With You: Why It Can Sound Awkward
Even though the meaning is understandable, “work alongside with you” tends to stand out to readers who notice grammar and phrasing. In professional documents like cover letters or business emails, this kind of redundancy can slightly undercut the polish of your writing, even if the message still comes across clearly.
Work Alongside You vs Work With You vs Work Beside You
These three phrases are related but carry slightly different nuances:
| Phrase | Meaning | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Work alongside you | Working together, often as part of a team or shared effort | Professional, collaborative contexts |
| Work with you | General collaboration, no specific positioning implied | Broad, all-purpose usage |
| Work beside you | Physical or close proximity while working | Literal, often physical work settings |
Work Alongside You vs Work Alongside With You Comparison Table
| Feature | Work Alongside You | Work Alongside With You |
|---|---|---|
| Grammatically standard | Yes | No |
| Considered redundant | No | Yes |
| Common in professional writing | Yes | Rarely |
| Common in casual/spoken English | Yes | Occasionally |
| Recommended usage | Preferred | Avoid in formal writing |
Is “Alongside With” Grammatically Correct?
Technically, “alongside with” isn’t a recognized standard construction in English grammar references. It’s better classified as a redundancy rather than an outright error, similar to phrases like “close proximity” or “advance planning.” It won’t confuse readers, but it’s not the version recommended by style guides or professional editors.
Work Alongside You in American English
Professional Settings
American workplaces commonly use “work alongside you” in emails, job descriptions, and performance reviews to describe collaborative relationships.
Everyday Conversation
In casual American English, “work alongside you” is used the same way, without the added “with.”
Business Communication
Business writing in the U.S. strongly favors concise phrasing, making “work alongside you” the standard choice in reports, proposals, and correspondence.
Work Alongside You in British English
Common Usage
British English follows the same pattern, using “work alongside you” without the extra “with” in both formal and informal settings.
Differences From American English
There’s little meaningful difference between American and British English on this particular phrase — both dialects treat “alongside with” as redundant and prefer “alongside” on its own.
Common Mistakes With “Alongside”
Adding an Unnecessary “With”
As covered above, pairing “alongside” with “with” is the most frequent mistake.
Confusing Alongside With Beside
“Alongside” implies cooperation or partnership, while “beside” is more literal, referring to physical position without necessarily implying teamwork.
Using the Wrong Preposition
Some writers mistakenly pair “alongside” with “to” or “of,” which also creates awkward, nonstandard phrasing.
Translating the Phrase Directly From Another Language
In many languages, the equivalent of “alongside” requires a separate word for “with.” Directly translating that structure into English often produces “alongside with,” which is why this mistake is especially common among non-native speakers.
When to Use “Work Alongside You”
Use “work alongside you” when describing collaboration, partnership, or teamwork — whether in a professional email, a resume, a cover letter, or everyday conversation about working together on a shared task.
When to Use “Work With You” Instead
“Work with you” is a slightly more general phrase and works well when you’re not emphasizing a shared position or team dynamic — for instance, in freelance or client relationships where the collaboration is less about being part of the same team and more about a working partnership.
Formal vs Informal Usage of Alongside
In formal writing — reports, proposals, official correspondence — “alongside” should always stand alone. In informal speech, the redundant “alongside with” may slip in without causing real confusion, but it’s still worth avoiding if you want your language to sound polished.
Alternative Ways to Say “Work Alongside You”
If you want to mix up your phrasing, here are a few solid alternatives:
Work With You
A simple, versatile option that works in nearly any context.
Collaborate With You
Slightly more formal, often used in business or creative projects.
Work Beside You
Best for describing physical proximity while working.
Work Together With You
A slightly longer phrase that still avoids the redundancy of “alongside with,” since “together” and “with” aren’t repeating the same preposition.
Partner With You
Ideal for describing a more formal or strategic working relationship.
The History and Evolution of “Alongside”
From Physical Position to Cooperation
“Alongside” originally described physical position — being next to something, like ships sailing alongside one another. Over time, its meaning expanded to include figurative cooperation, describing people or organizations working together toward a common purpose.
Modern English Usage
Today, “alongside” is used far more often in the figurative sense of partnership and teamwork than in its original literal, spatial sense — especially in professional and business writing.
How to Remember the Correct Usage
Alongside Already Means Together
The easiest way to remember the correct usage is to recall that “alongside” already means “together with.” Once that clicks, adding an extra “with” naturally feels unnecessary.
Simple Memory Trick
Try replacing “alongside” with “together with” in your sentence. If it sounds redundant to say “together with with you,” that’s your cue that “alongside with” doesn’t need the extra word either.
Common Questions About Work Alongside You vs Work Alongside With You
Is “work alongside you” grammatically correct?
Yes, “work alongside you” is grammatically correct and is the standard, preferred phrase in both American and British English.
Is it correct to say “work alongside with you”?
No, “work alongside with you” is considered redundant and is not the preferred form in standard English.
Should I say “work alongside you” or “work with you”?
Either works well. “Work alongside you” emphasizes teamwork or shared position, while “work with you” is more general and versatile.
Is “alongside with” redundant?
Yes, because “alongside” already means “with” or “together with,” making the additional “with” unnecessary.
Can “alongside” be used without “with”?
Yes, “alongside” should always be used without “with,” since it already functions as a complete preposition on its own.
Is “work alongside you” formal or informal?
“Work alongside you” works in both formal and informal contexts, making it a flexible, all-purpose phrase.
What is another way to say “work alongside you”?
Alternatives include “work with you,” “collaborate with you,” “work beside you,” and “partner with you.”
Quick Grammar Recap
- “Alongside” already means “together with,” so it doesn’t need an extra “with.”
- “Work alongside you” is the grammatically correct, standard phrase.
- “Work alongside with you” is redundant and best avoided in formal writing.
- Both American and British English follow the same rule here.
- If in doubt, swap “alongside” for “together with” to check whether the sentence still makes sense without the extra “with.”
Getting this small grammar detail right can make your writing sound noticeably more polished, whether you’re drafting a cover letter, sending a professional email, or simply chatting with a colleague about an upcoming project.
