What is the difference between 'aid' and 'help'?

Dear teachers,

Please read:

  1. to aid an orphan in his studies.
  2. to help an orphan in his studies.

In these cases, “aid” and” help” have the same meaning?

Thanks
Quoc

Hi, Quoc. Yes, they have the same meaning but I prefer help, it’s more common to me. Aid is more formal.

“Aid” is rarely used as a verb. It is normally a noun.

Hi,

So,

help (n) = aid (n)?

Ex: She came to our help.
= She came to our aid.
Do you need any help? = Do you need any aid?

Ok?
If help (noun) is has the same meaning as aid (noun), how to distinguis them in use?Are they interchangeable or not?

Quoc