Interchangeability between atop and on top of
Atop seems to be used interchangeably with on top of when in sentences such as atop(/on top of) a mountain, as a preposition. However, is it correct if I use it to replace on top of in the sentence below?
This provides greater utility, on top of comfort.
I would greatly appreciate a detailed answer, thank you so much in advance!
You should not say
This provides greater utility, atop of comfort.
because atop means physically on the top of, whereas your intended meaning is something like "in addition to".
The entry in Lexico says
atop
PREPOSITION
literaryOn the top of.
the weathervane is perched atop the Great Tower
atop
ADVERB
literaryOn the top.
the air-raid siren atop of the County Courthouse
The indication literary means that the word isn't used much in spoken English.