1. "As well" as a phrase:
* When "as well" acts as a phrase meaning "in addition to" or "also," it generally doesn't need commas. Think of it as a single unit.
* Example: We ordered pizza as well as salad for dinner.
* Example: He loves to read as well as write.
2. "As well" with a non-essential phrase:
* When "as well" is part of a non-essential phrase that could be removed without changing the sentence's core meaning, use commas. Think of it as interrupting the flow of the sentence.
* Example: The library, as well as the coffee shop, is closed today. (The phrase "as well as the coffee shop" could be removed.)
* Example: The meeting, which was scheduled for Tuesday, as well as the presentation, has been postponed. (The phrase "which was scheduled for Tuesday, as well as the presentation" could be removed.)
3. "As well" as a conjunction:
* While not as common, "as well" can act as a conjunction, meaning "also." In this case, a comma is often used before it.
* Example: We went to the beach, as well as the zoo, on our vacation.
Key point: Focus on the grammatical role of "as well" in your sentence to determine whether it needs punctuation.