How often do you use the phrase “not only” in your day? After all, it is a very useful phrase to say that something in your life has been added to another thing. This can be used to communicate a lot of different ideas, like listing tasks that you need to do or express how great a day has been. For example, you might say “Not only did I win the lottery, I also got a promotion today.”
However, is there a chance that you might be using it too much? Have you wondered if maybe you could’ve used another phrase for “not only?” If so, when would it be the best place to use it?
This guide will provide a few reasons why you would consider another phrase for “not only”, along with a few example phrases that will help improve your vocabulary.
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Why Use Another Phrase for “Not Only”?
“Not only” can be a really helpful phrase in some situations, but if you overuse it, your speech or writing can start to feel weird. Similarly to the use of synonyms, having different phrases to say “not only” can help convey your ideas more naturally to other English speakers. Although, while the idea is the same since “not only” is a phrase instead of a single word, it doesn’t have an exact equivalent the same way words like “happy” or “pretty” do. But the idea of connecting two different things together is the same, and like knowing different synonyms for different words, it will improve your vocabulary.
There are also some phrases that are better in some instances than others, such as formal spaces with your boss or casual meetings with friends. We will explain a little more about these instances later down the blog.
20 Other Phrases for “Not Only” (With Examples)
Formal Alternatives for Not Only:
| Phrase | Example sentence |
| As well as | You need to study Mathematics as well as English. |
| In addition to | In addition to feeding the cat, you also have to clean her. |
| Along with | We needed to complete the English test, along with the History test. |
| Moreover | I drank water, moreover I made some for you. |
| Furthermore | The room is messy, and furthermore the bathroom isn’t clean. |
Emphatic Alternatives for Not Only
| Phrase | Example sentence |
| But also | You’re not just sad, but also angry. |
| And also | You won us the game and also did it in style. |
| As well | I know English as well as Spanish. |
| Over and above | We need to fix this wall over and above the other major house repairs. |
Creative and Unique Alternatives for Not Only
| Phrase | Example sentence |
| Hand in hand with | My cooking goes hand in hand with my cleaning. |
| Not just | He’s not just smart, but strong too. |
| Over and alongside | I’m watching a movie over and alongside carrying my dog. |
| With the addition of | To garden, you need to water with the addition of sunlight. |
| To add to that | We gotta do some cooking, to add to that we need to walk the dog. |
Simple and Conversational Alternatives for Not Only
| Phrase | Example sentence |
| Plus | I did the dishes, plus cleaned the kitchen. |
| Not to mention | I didn’t sleep last night, not to mention the amount of homework I need to do. |
| On top of that | We need to fix my computer, and on top of that we need to do it quickly. |
| As well as | We would have to run fast, as well as drink water. |
| Accompanied by | Hunger is often accompanied by stress. |
| Besides | I was bored, besides there wasn’t anything to do. |
Where to Use Another Phrase for “Not Only”?
Now, all of this is not to say that you cannot use the phrase “not only.” It is, as said before, really useful. However, knowing another phrase for “not only” can prove very useful depending on the situation. Here are a few examples to help you find out in which situations you might use something other than “not only.”
Academic and Professional Writing
Academic and professional writing often need to be formal due to their written conventions. “Not only” can seem a little too personal in some of these cases and it is often better to look for other ways to say it. That is not to say it can never be used in a formal context, but other words and phrases might fit more. For an example, here is a news article about people protesting a new law in the country of Panama. Notice how it uses the word “furthermore?” That’s another phrase for “not only” that is appropriate in a more formal setting.
Storytelling and Creative Writing
Usually the goal in creative writing is to express some sort of emotion. If you can connect with what a character is feeling, you will want to see what happens next in the story. While the phrase “not only” can help create some of those emotions, some contexts and situations can call for another phrase for it.
To provide my own example, “I’m tired and to add to that I’m hungry,” communicates that the character in the sentence is in a bad situation using another phrase for “not only” which might not be as effective in this context.
Everyday Conversation
In everyday conversation it helps to keep things flowing and to be able to keep the mood light and fun with the other person. You can very easily get away with using “not only” more often in this context, but you will look more confident and sound more natural if you sometimes switch up phrases. One example of this is this social media post talking about relaxing for the rest of their day. It uses “besides” as another phrase for “not only.”
How to Choose Another Phrase for “Not Only”
After these examples you might still have a few questions. How do I know which situations are which? Where do I know if I should use this phrase or that phrase? Now, while these questions might seem overwhelming there are ways to make things a little bit more organized for you. Here are some rules you can follow to help you pick out what phrases to use.
- Match tone to context (formal vs informal). Looking at the context of your situation greatly helps you figure out what sort of phrase you should be using in that situation. This is especially important if you are in a place or are writing for something that needs you to use a more formal style of English. Of course, only using formal style words can cause some problems. Try to remember the rules and differences of the two styles.
- Avoid complex phrases when a simpler one would work better. Sometimes, a simpler phrase works better. Using another phrase for “not only” is useful in a lot of situations, but since it is a very simple phrase, you do not have to necessarily avoid having to use it. This is especially true in everyday conversation, where it would be odd to say something like “in addition to” when “besides” would make the same point in a shorter time.
- Use alternatives strategically to enhance readability. When you are writing, it is very important to vary your words so that readers are engaged. This is especially true if you are writing something long. If you are re-reading a thing you wrote and you don’t think that readers are gonna be interested in finishing it, try using different words or phrases.
Conclusion
This guide shows the importance of variety and using context to help you pick out your words, and also gives you other phrases for “not only” you can use in your day. Besides expanding your vocabulary, it also gives you ways to improve your confidence when talking or writing to someone else.
However, like with all things in life, it is important to practice instead of just reading about it. So how about you try and see if you can use some of these phrases in your own day to day life?
Do you know other ways of saying “not only?” Maybe share some of them in the comments below!