plus side

Meanings

1. 1nounsingularinformal

   The good or helpful part of a situation, especially one that also has bad parts.

   Grammar: Usually used as 'the plus side' with 'of' or 'to': the plus side of the job.

   Patterns

   • the plus side of something
   • on the plus side
   • the plus side to something

   The pay is low, but the plus side is that I can work from home.

   On the plus side, we finished the project two days early.

   There is a plus side to living so close to the airport: you never miss a flight.

2. 2phrasefixed phraseinformal

   Used to introduce a good point that balances something negative just mentioned.

   Grammar: Comes at the start of a sentence or clause, often followed by a comma.

   Patterns

   • on the plus side, ...

   The hotel was noisy. On the plus side, the breakfast was excellent.

   We lost the game. On the plus side, nobody got hurt.

Common combinations

on the plus side

On the plus side, the train was almost empty.

the plus side of something

The plus side of winter is that there are no mosquitoes.

look on the plus side

Try to look on the plus side for once.

a big plus side

There is a big plus side to studying abroad.

Synonyms and how they differ

advantage

More formal and neutral; use it for a clear benefit, while 'plus side' sounds conversational and often balances a complaint.

benefit

Focuses on a good result you gain; 'plus side' more often names the good half of a mixed situation.

upside

Very close in meaning and also informal, but 'upside' is more common in business talk about possible gains.

Opposites

Word family

plus preposition

Added to; also a noun for an advantage.

Commonly confused: plus side or upside?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “plus side”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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