The phrase "arrive instead of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating a preference for one action or event over another, particularly in contexts involving arrival or participation.
Example: "I decided to arrive instead of leaving early to enjoy the entire event."
Alternatives: "come rather than" or "show up instead of".
Mail was considered on time if it took four to five days to arrive instead of three.
"President Bush is determined to remove threats before they arrive, instead of simply waiting for another attack on our country," he said at Camp Pendleton.
He said Peru is trying to control growth and access to Cachora to keep it from becoming another Aguas Calientes, the town closest to Machu Picchu, which is made up entirely of tourist shops, restaurants and hostels, with a railroad track — where the tourists arrive — instead of a main street.
And make sure you talk to people as soon as you arrive, instead of standing alone in the corner.
When you arrive, instead of waiting in a line and hoping for availability within the next hour, you're ushered to your table to begin dining.
At the largest scale, this trend is being driven by principles of Lean manufacturing, which envisions the enterprise as a massive event-driven system, waiting to create products when customer orders arrive instead of building products in advance and holding them in inventory.
Two sets of police officers arrived instead of an ambulance.
A doll, when it arrives, instead of softening the girl, comes to grotesquely embody the damage of Leonora's soul.
Evans arrived instead of Anderson at Durkin's postgame news conference and greeted the second-year coach after a few minutes of somber remarks.
My idea works for all kinds of inequities and clears the air before the meal arrives, instead of causing embarrassment after the party is over.
She said school officials should have dealt with the issue before the performers arrived, instead of reacting at the last minute.
