student asking question

Is "side" being used as an emphasis? Is there any difference in meaning between "stayed by her" and "stayed by her side"?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

"Side" is being used for emphasis here, however there is also a slight difference in meaning between "stayed by her" and "stayed by her side". To stay by someone's side" is an expression that refers to keeping up with them or going where they go. "Side" is also used here to specify the location of something. If something is at your "side", it usually means it is right next to you. To say "stayed by her" on the other hand does not specify this location and would just express that something was close to another thing.

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