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As well as vs. and

Question:

Is it correct to use as well as to replace the conjunction and in the sentence below?

  • The service was prompt, courteous as well as efficient.

Answer:

No, it's not correct. As well as can be used as a conjunction to join items in a series—but it's not simply a synonym for and.

The coordinating conjunction and can be used to join any number of items, with an equal emphasis on all items:

  • two items: prompt and courteous
  • three items: prompt, courteous and efficient
  • four items: prompt, courteous, efficient and professional

However, the conjunction as well as differs from and in two important ways. First, it acts like the correlative conjunction not only...but also, putting an unequal emphasis on the items it joins. The item following as well as has less emphasis than the item before it:

  • The service was prompt as well as efficient

    • [The emphasis is on prompt.]

Second, while and can join several items, the conjunction as well as by itself cannot connect more than two. If we add the third item courteous to the series, we have to use the conjunction and between two of the items. We can do this in various ways:

  • use and by itself to join the whole series, putting an equal emphasis on all three adjectives:
  • The service was prompt, courteous and efficient.
  • OR
  • use and with as well as, putting less emphasis on the item(s) that appear after as well as:
  • The service was prompt and courteous as well as efficient.

    • [The emphasis is on prompt and courteous.]

  • The service was prompt as well as courteous and efficient.

    • [The emphasis is on prompt.]
Date Modified: 2012-03-29

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