Aid vs. Aide: Help or Helper?
The One-Letter Difference
- Aid = help, assistance, or support (noun/verb)
- Aide = a person who helps (always a noun, always a person)
Aid: The Help Itself
“Aid” refers to assistance in any form—money, supplies, actions:
- “The country sent aid after the earthquake.” ✓
- “First aid training saves lives.” ✓
- “Visual aids help with presentations.” ✓
- “She aided the investigation.” ✓ (verb form)
Aide: The Human Helper
“Aide” is always a person in an assisting role:
- “The senator’s aide handles scheduling.” ✓
- “A nurse’s aide helped with patients.” ✓
- “Presidential aides attended the meeting.” ✓
You can’t have “financial aide” (unless you’re talking about a person who manages finances).
The Quick Test
Can you replace it with “helper” or “assistant”?
- Yes → aide
- No → aid
“The _____ carried briefcases into the meeting.” → “The helpers carried briefcases” ✓ → aides
“We need medical _____.” → “We need medical helper” ✗ → aid
Common Pairings
| Aid (the help) | Aide (the person) |
|---|---|
| Financial aid | Teacher’s aide |
| Foreign aid | Congressional aide |
| Hearing aid | Presidential aide |
| First aid | Home health aide |
| Aid package | Senior aide |
The Student Loan Trap
This trips up many people:
- “I applied for financial aid.” ✓ (the money/assistance)
- “The financial aide helped me with forms.” ✓ (a person in the office)
Band-Aid Note
It’s “Band-Aid” (a brand name for adhesive bandages)—the thing that aids healing, not a person.
Remember
- Aid = the assistance (thing or action)
- Aide = the assistant (always a person)