Author: David Bowman.

You’ve heard of the buddy system–taking a friend along when you go swimming.

The idea behind the buddy system is that if you begin to drown, your buddy will save your life. Not only will he save your life, but also he will call for help. This might be an odd way to start an article about writing, but it has a point.

The point is that some phrases use the buddy system. One phrase, swimming without its buddy, will be “dead in the water.” For example, most people are familiar with the “either…or” and “neither…nor” buddies. Using only one part of these pairs is incorrect.

Some buddies are a bit more complex, such as “if…then” phrases. A correct example of this is “If you don’t know how to swim, then you shouldn’t dive into the pool.” The “then” can be left out, as it is assumed. Here’s another example of this: “If I had taken swimming lessons, [then] I wouldn’t have to wear this ugly life preserver in the pool.”

However, the pesky pair that is most often used incorrectly is the “not only…but also” phrase. Not only do people use it incorrectly, but also some people use it too often.

Here’s the rule: If you use “not only,” then you need to use “but also.” That “also” doesn’t need to follow immediately after the “but,” but it does need to be used. Here are some examples of drowning buddies and their corrections:

1. Wrong: “Not only will he save your life, but he will call for help.” [Missing "also"]
Correct: “Not only will he save your life, but he will also call for help.”

2. Wrong: “Not only do I like pizza, I also like lasagna.” [Missing "but"]
Correct: “Not only do I like pizza, but I like lasagna, too.” ["Too," as used here, is a synonym for "also."]

Some people use this phrase too often. We recommend that you use this pair of buddies very sparingly. Here’s why. When you use this pair, you place a lot of emphasis on the second part of the sentence. If you do this too often, you create too many “HUPAs” (Hey, you. Pay attention!) Not only does this cause your sentences to lose impact, but the writing also becomes tedious to read.

A good alternative to using “Not only…but also” is simply to use “and.” For example, “Not only can’t I swim, but also I can’t fly” could be written as “I can’t swim, and I can’t fly.” In the same way, “Not only do I like the pool, but also I like the sunshine” could be written as “I like the pool and the sunshine.”
A good writer understands the mechanics of writing and how to use words and phrases purposefully. Addressing these “not only…but also” issues will help a writer do both.

This can be a bit confusing, so if you need professional help, don’t hesitate to ask for it. Not only are professional editors available, but also they are interested in helping you write well. As our motto states: Good writing always matters.

About the Author:
David Bowman is the owner and chief editor of Precise Edit, a comprehensive editing, proofreading, and document analysis service for authors, students, and businesses. Precise Edit also offers a variety of other services, such as translation, transcription, and website development. Click here for more information about Precise Edit’s services.

 



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