Unraveling the Mystery of ‘As Well As’
Learning English involves more than just grasping vocabulary and syntax. It’s about understanding the nuances of language and punctuation. The phrase ‘as well as’ and its associated punctuation – the comma, often leaves learners perplexed. In this post, we answer burning questions like, “does as well as need a comma?” and “should as well as have commas?” as we delve into using commas with ‘as well as’.
The Basics: Understanding ‘As Well As’
‘As well as’ is a conjunction used to add information or list additional items. It implies that the items mentioned earlier are more important than the ones that follow. It works similarly to ‘in addition to’ or ‘and’. A common dilemma is whether to separate the elements in the sentence with a comma when using this phrase.
Does ‘As Well As’ Need a Comma?
The general rule is that if ‘as well as’ introduces a non-restrictive clause (extra information that can be removed without changing the sentence’s meaning), it should be accompanied by commas. However, when ‘as well as’ is part of the essential information, no comma is needed.
Examples without a comma
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Mary plays piano as well as violin.
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He loves reading classics as well as fantasy novels.
In the examples above, leaving out ‘as well as violin’ or ‘as well as fantasy novels’ would change the meaning of the sentence, so no commas are used.
Examples with a comma
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My friend, as well as her brother, will be moving to New York.
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The report, as well as the data files, is on the desk.
In the above cases, removing the ‘as well as’ phrases does not change the core meaning of the sentences, so they are offset by commas.
Advanced Uses of ‘As Well As’
While many learners wonder about using commas with ‘as well as’, it’s important to also consider other punctuation. Depending on the context, the phrase may also interact with colons, semi-colons and parentheses.
Examples with other punctuation
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All fruits, like apples and bananas as well as oranges, are rich in vitamins.
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Jane’s hobbies include reading (novels, newspapers, as well as magazines), cooking, and traveling.
Summary
Learning when to use commas with ‘as well as’ can enhance your written English, conveying your message without ambiguity. Keep in mind the general rule: if ‘as well as’ introduces non-essential information, use a comma. If not, leave the comma out. Remember, practice is key to mastering this aspect of punctuation.
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FAQs
Should ‘as well as’ have commas?
‘As well as’ should have commas when it introduces a non-essential clause. If the ‘as well as’ phrase is part of the essential information of the sentence, no comma is needed.
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