AS WELL AS

Just a longer version of what came before… And the best part is being able to get right to it without an introduction! (For anyone feeling shortchanged, the previous preamble should serve.)


Alive and blessed with math-like skills,
“As well as” to “in addition” adds “to.”
In cases such, a comma it takes
If starting sentence or lesser unto.

Example quick to make this clear:
“As well as eating lemon pie,
He drank six beers while sitting there,
And all did laugh, as well as sigh.”

This second case of “in addition to,”
Its import slight, a mere aside,
Requires a comma since lesser unto,
A status the writer would thus confide.

Comparing directly, simply, in prose,
“As well as” a comma doth never require.
But extras offered, unneeded they be,
Must dress in commas as central attire…

Since parenthetical, clearly apart,
And nonessential to meaning like this:
“All gentlemen here, as well as there,
Should look to God for lasting bliss.”

“As well as,” thus, may sum like “and”
But unlike “and” can't rightly star
A compound subject, nouns combined:
Put “this as well as that” with “are.”

Instead a singular verb is vet--
One caution more to add to store.
For welcome summary one would wish,
Forget the clues and rules obscure:

As well as weighing sameness state,
“As well as” joins up parts in pairs.
A crown of commas shall it rate
In nonessential-clause affairs.

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