Getting top billing - Miscellaneous matters

Booher's Rules of Business Grammar - Dianna Booher 2009

Getting top billing
Miscellaneous matters

PHRASAL PREPOSITIONS

Which of the following sentences is correct? Neither? Both?

Pudge and Brunhilda have a ticket to fly to New York.

Pudge as well as Brunhilda have a ticket to fly to New York.

If you chose only the first, you’re correct. The verb in the second sentence should be has because Pudge is the guy we’re primarily concerned about getting on the plane.

Consider the phrases as well as, in addition to, together with, and along with as afterthoughts and not part of a compound subject. (Technically, they’re called phrasal prepositions, meanings prepositions of more than one word.) As an afterthought, they don’t get equal ranking with the true subject of the sentence. So as my Italian friend from the Bronx would say, “fagettaboutem” when you select the verb.

These four phrases are not the equivalent of and. They do not make the noun that follows part of a compound subject. Examples:

Correct:

Gertrude and Tiger are on the board of directors.

Gertrude in addition to Tiger is on the board of directors. (Writers often set off such nonessential phrases with commas: “Gertrude, in addition to Tiger, is on the board of directors.”)

Kilpatrick and his colleagues in Phoenix have been selected for the training. (Kilpatrick and the colleagues have equal status.)

Kilpatrick, as well as his colleagues in Phoenix, has been selected for the training. (The as well as phrase downplays his colleagues.)

So you may be asking, Why use one of those phrases to introduce the second noun? Why not just join the two nouns with and? Emphasis. And gives them equal status. The other phrases introduce a subordinate idea. If the noun or pronoun that follows them is not the main topic under discussion, keep them in their place!

Memory tip

Lean to the side, lower your voice, and whisper the aside beginning with as well as, in addition to, along with, or together with as if it were a secret. The correct verb for the true subject will become obvious.