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Do you need a comma before as well as or as? The answer depends on how you’re using them. In this short explanation, we break down the rules with easy examples to help you use commas confidently and correctly.
Comma Before As — When Do You Need It?
Using a comma before as depends on how the word is used in the sentence. Here are the main rules:
Use a comma before “as” when it means “because.”
If as gives a reason, you usually add a comma.
Examples:
- I stayed home, as I wasn’t feeling well.
- She didn’t join us, as she had to finish her work.
- You’ll notice that the second clause gives a reason, so a comma is natural.
Do NOT use a comma when “as” means “while” or “when.”
If as describes two actions happening at the same time, don’t use a comma.
Examples:
- She smiled as she opened the gift.
- The phone rang as I was leaving the house.
Here as = while, so no comma.
Do NOT use a comma when “as” is part of a comparison.
When you use as…as for comparison, no comma is needed.
Examples:
- He’s as tall as his brother.
- This task is not as difficult as you think.
Optional comma when “as” introduces extra information.
If the as-clause is nonessential (extra information), a comma is optional but often preferred.
Examples:
- Tom, as you know, is a great cook.
- The city, as I remember it, was much quieter.
Without the comma, the sentence becomes hard to read.
Does “As Well As” Need a Comma?
The phrase as well as is a conjunction used to add something to another previously said thing. It’s another way to say in addition to. It is often incorrectly used. Though it is a phrase used to add an item or idea to a statement, it is not always interchangeable with the word and. Unlike and, as well as cannot be used to indicate compound subjects.
Now, on to the most confusing part. You may or may not put commas when using the as well as phrase. It all comes down to how you use it in a clause, whether it is restrictive or nonrestrictive.
“As Well As” Without Comma
If used as a part of a restrictive clause, as well as is not accompanied by a comma. Restrictive means that the item after the conjunction is essential information. You can also use comma-less as well as when making a simple comparison.
Example:
- Know your strengths as well as your weaknesses.
- The daughter doesn’t paint as well as her mother does.
The first example tells you to know your weaknesses in addition to your strengths. The second one describes how the daughter paints compared to her mother. As you can see, both cases don’t include commas to better relay the meaning. Getting rid of those as well as clauses will alter the whole point of the sentences.
“As Well As” With Comma
Place a comma before as well as if the clause is meant as an aside-information or intervening element. That is, it is not the main subject or description in your sentence. These descriptions are called nonrestrictive. Nonrestrictive clauses serve only as additional information. Eliminating them does not necessarily change the idea that is meant to be relayed.
Example:
- Ria, as well as Mia, is a great grammarian.
- The daughter paints, as well as her mother.
In the first example, Ria is the focus subject. Mia is mentioned but not emphasized. You have to put another comma after the whole intervening phrase. Or else, your sentence will be incorrect and misunderstood. Also, notice that the verb used is singular. That’s because the main subject is only Ria. You cannot use the conjunction as well as to relay compound subjects. If you think Mia is an essential part, then you may instead use the word and. Then, get rid of the commas and change the predicate to a plural form.
The second example is quite similar to the one in the Without Comma section. But when you look at it closely, the comma changes the meaning. This time, the sentence only suggests that the daughter and her mother both paint without comparing the two.
