Aid and Aide both refer to help; however, only aide refers specifically to a professional helper. Let's look more closely at each word.
Aid
Aid, as a noun, can refer to any kind of help. It can also be used as a verb:
We could use your aid on this project. (Noun)
Your contribution aided the completion of this project greatly. (Verb)
Aide
Aide refers to a person professionally assisting some other person who is in a more powerful or higher ranking position:
The African dignitary arrived for the conference surrounded by aides.
Aid should not be used in place of aide; aid can only mean “helper,” in a casual sense. When referring to any official helper, the correct usage is aide:
Correct: Your children have been great aids in the kitchen today.
Correct: The president’s aide handed her the briefcase.
Incorrect: The president’s *aid handed her the briefcase.
Some Americans do tend to use aid for aide, but this is generally considered incorrect (or more accurately, nonstandard usage).
More Examples of Aid in a Sentence
- Sarah has been a first-aid volunteer for years.
- Aid was given to those families and businesses that were affected forest fire.
- Aid can be given in many different forms, such as financial, emotional and physical.
- Aid workers helped distribute supplies to refugees fleeing the war in Syria.
- Aid is given to farmers in developing countries to help them increase their crop yields.
- I want to be an aid worker and help people in need.
- He was on his way to the public aid office when a man approached him.
- Linda always lends a hand to anyone in need of aid.
- The planes carrying aid supplies were diverted because of a passenger’s illness.
- The first aid kit includes bandages, antiseptics, and eye drops.
More Examples of Aide in a Sentence
- The new aide in the nursing home was prompt and helpful with the elderly.
- The sympethetic aide wiped the old man’s forehead with a wet cloth.
- An aide to the president took a bribe.
- The nurse aided her patient by checking on their temperature and pulse.
- I can't believe my teacher is having to ask for a classroom aide to help manage her 40+ students.
- I am sorry; I'm not your aide—it’s time to grow up!
- An aide to the president took a bribe.