Not Only But Also: Adding Emphasis and Clarity to Your Writing - English Study Online (2024)

The phrase ‘not only’ is often used to introduce the first of two items in a list, and ‘but also’ is used to introduce the second. Together, ‘not only’ and ‘but also’ add emphasis and clarity to your writing, helping to make your ideas more concise and impactful.

In this article, we’ll explore the definition, usage, and useful examples of ‘not only but also’ in English. By the end, you’ll have a better understanding of this powerful phrase and how to use it effectively in your own writing and speaking.

Not Only But Also

Definition

• The constructionnot only….but (also)is called acorrelative conjunction. It is used to connect and emphasize 2 words or 2 phrases at the same position. Both two phrases are being presented by the writer as surprising or unexpected, with the second one being even more surprising than the first. We use “not only but also” to give more information.
• It can be used to list adjective qualities, nouns or verbs, to show complementary qualities, quantities or actions, events and states.

When to Use “Not Only But Also”

• We use it when we have two things and we want to give a little extra emphasis to the second thing because it’s even better, or even worse, or more surprising, or more impressive, or more shocking than the first thing.
• The most essential rule to remember about using this structure is that two parts of speech must be parallel.

How to Form Sentences with “Not Only…But Also”

There are two ways to use not only, but also. You can use it in the middle and end of the sentence, or you can actually use it to start a sentence with not only. There are some grammatical considerations we have to keep in mind.

1. Use it in the middle and end of the sentence:

S + V + not only + Adjective + but also + Adjective

For example:

• He is not onlyarrogant but also selfish.
• Tom is not only rich but also famous.
• She wasnot onlyextremely intelligent but also very practical.

S + V + not only + Adv + but also + Adv

For example:

• John works not only quickly but also efficiently.
• Thomas writes not onlycorrectlybut also neatly.
• He worked not only hard but also carefully.

S + V + not only + Noun + but also + Noun

For example:

• She is not onlya novelist but also a poet.
• He isnot only a statesman but also a man of the people.
• Shakespeare wasnot onlya writer but also an actor.

S + not only + V + but also + V

For example:

• Henot onlystudies hard but also works well.
• Shenot only plays well but also writes music.
• He not only speaks English but also French.
• The robbersnot onlytook his money but also laid into him.
• Shenot only entered the competition but alsowon it!
• Henot only read the book but also remembered what he read.
• Henot only writes his own plays but also acts in them.

2. Use it at the beginning of the sentence or Inversion of Not only but also:

We can use not only at the beginning of a clause to add emphasis. When we do this, the subject and the verb are inverted.

Not only + V/Adj/Noun/Adv + but (he/she) also + V/Adj/Noun/Adv Verb be/ aux (do/will/should/would /can/ could)

For examples:

Noun:

• Not only does he speak English but he also speaks French.
• Not only does she speak Spanish but she also knows how to type.
• Not onlyyou but also I am planning to go.
• Not only do the nurses want a pay increase but they also want reduced hours as well.

Noun phrase:

• Not only is he handsome but (he is) also intelligent.
• Not only is the return address on the e-mail almost certainly fraudulent but also responding to spam creates more traffic.
• Not only will that skill help your resume but also will make you familiar with on-line job recruiting.
• Not only was it raining all day at the wedding but also the band was late.
• Not only will they paint the outside of the house but also the inside.

When there is no auxiliary verb or main verb be, we use do, does, did:

• Not only did she forget my birthday, but she also didn’t even apologize for forgetting it.
• Not only did he needlessly place himself in danger but also no charges were brought against his prisoners.

In conclusion, the phrase ‘not only but also’ is a powerful tool for adding emphasis and clarity to your writing. By understanding its definition, correct usage, and useful examples, you can confidently incorporate ‘not only but also’ into your own writing and speaking.

Whether you’re writing a formal essay or having a casual conversation, ‘not only but also’ is a versatile phrase that can help you express your ideas more effectively. So don’t be afraid to use it – with a little practice, you’ll be a pro at using ‘not only but also’ in no time!