but rather believe

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but rather believe" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to contrast two ideas, indicating a preference for one belief or opinion over another. Example: "I don't think we should fear the unknown, but rather believe in our ability to adapt and grow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Hindus do not mark death as the end of existence but rather believe that the soul is reincarnated into different physical bodies through cycles of birth and death.

Huffington Post

We do not stress individual significant findings, but rather believe that consistent association patterns between genotypes and symptoms indicate true findings.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

We did not mean to imply that there is necessarily one discrete binding mode but rather believe that avidity plays a significant role in complex assembly, using multiple binding modes that engage different flexible NESs and possibly different forms of the Rev oligomer.

eLife

We do not suggest that we have identified all loci experiencing synonymous site selection pressure but rather believe that we have identified a high-confidence set for which future analyses can be performed to 1) confirm the rate comparison signal and 2) elicit the functional consequences of the selective fixations of unpreferred codons.

Genome Biology and Evolution

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The I.O.C. does not give ultimatums nor deadlines, but rather believes that a lot can be achieved through dialogue".

The New York Times - Sports

He said he did not trust that his cellphone was secure, but rather, believed it was "hot".

The New York Times

"The I.O.C. does not give ultimatums nor deadlines but rather believes that a lot can be achieved through dialogue," Moreau wrote in an e-mail.

The New York Times - Sports

"The IOC does not give ultimatums or deadlines," she declares, "but rather believes that a lot can be achieved through dialogue".

The Guardian - Sport

It was the action of a half-believer, the sort of thing done by someone who doesn't so much believe in God – but rather believes in the efficacy of human power exercised on God's behalf, as if God needed his help.

The Guardian - Opinion

So there's less reason to retire at 65. Sahlgren does not suggest working until, say, you die at your desk, but rather believes that older people should not quit work cold turkey.

BBC

Janet Brown Janet Brown, publisher and editor of NoLoad Fund*X, doesn't necessarily think investors should be bottom fishing but, rather, believes that smart investors should preserve capital and move into funds that are outperforming on a relative basis (losing less).

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but rather believe" to introduce a contrasting viewpoint that you strongly advocate for. This emphasizes a deliberate choice in perspective.

Common error

Avoid using "but rather believe" when a simple "but" or "instead" would suffice. The phrase is most effective when highlighting a significant difference in understanding or conviction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but rather believe" functions as a conjunction used to introduce a contrasting belief or perspective, emphasizing a deliberate choice in viewpoint. As seen in Ludwig, it often appears when refuting an existing idea and presenting an alternative conviction.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "but rather believe" is a conjunction phrase used to introduce a contrasting belief with emphasis. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, though its frequency is rare. Predominantly found in news and scientific contexts, this phrase serves to persuade or convince an audience by highlighting a deliberate choice in perspective. Remember to employ this phrase when aiming to present a considered alternative viewpoint. Related phrases include "but instead believe" and "but prefer to believe", each offering slight variations in emphasis. Avoid overusing the phrase in simple contrasts, as a simple “but” or “instead” might suffice. The authoritative sources utilizing this phrase include The New York Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

but instead believe

Replaces "rather" with "instead", creating a slightly more direct contrast.

but prefer to believe

Adds an element of preference or choice in the belief.

but choose to believe

Emphasizes the active decision to hold a particular belief.

but actually believe

Highlights the sincerity or genuineness of the belief.

but genuinely believe

Similar to "actually believe", stressing the honesty of the belief.

but truly believe

Emphasizes the depth and conviction of the belief.

but sincerely believe

Focuses on the honest and heartfelt nature of the belief.

but are inclined to believe

Indicates a leaning or tendency towards a particular belief.

but tend to believe

Suggests a habitual or common inclination to believe something.

but rather assume

Replaces belief with assumption, indicating a less firm conviction.

FAQs

How can I use "but rather believe" in a sentence?

Use "but rather believe" to present a contrasting viewpoint that you actively support, especially when challenging an existing assumption. For example, "I don't think we should fear the unknown, "but rather believe" in our capacity to adapt and learn".

What phrases are similar to "but rather believe"?

You can use alternatives like "but instead believe", "but prefer to believe", or "but choose to believe" to convey a similar contrasting belief.

Is it better to use "but instead believe" or "but rather believe"?

"But instead believe" and "but rather believe" are similar, but "but rather believe" often implies a more thoughtful or considered alternative, while "but instead believe" can sound more immediate or reactive.

What's the difference between "but believe" and "but rather believe"?

"But believe" simply introduces a contrasting belief, while "but rather believe" adds emphasis to the contrast, suggesting a conscious decision to adopt a different perspective.