grammaticality - Is "not only... but as well..." grammatical?


I was given a text to read by my teacher which contains the following sentence:



Speaking a foreign language one can not only read the papers, magazines and original books by outstanding writers, but as well watch satellite programmes, use the internet, travel easily to different parts of the world.



Is it correct to use as well at the beginning of the phrase after but? Should as well be set off by commas in this case?



Answer



As well is an adverb meaning ‘also; in addition’ and its use in your example is grammatical. That, however, is not to say that it is an ideal sentence. Readers might expect as well, coming at that stage in the sentence, to be part of as well as for which they will look in vain. In terms of style, it might be preferable to break the sentence into two, ending the first at writers and beginning the second with In addition, one can watch . . .


A further point: and is needed between internet and travel.


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