instead for

USAGE SUMMARY

'instead for' is not correct in written English.
Instead you should use 'instead of'. For example, "I chose to walk instead of taking the bus."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He called instead for dialogue.

The New York Times

He argues instead for deeper parental involvement.

The New York Times

She opted instead for antidepressants and antipsychotics.

The New York Times

He opted instead for a local solution.

The New York Times

Some opt instead for "Chury".

The Guardian

I opted instead for a submarine ride.

The New York Times - Travel

He asks instead for a quickie sacrifice.

The Guardian

Instead, for starters, call your doctor!

The New York Times

Barbera calls instead for "an enlightened synthesis".

The New York Times - Books

Instead, for Bennett there's… Victor Oladipo.

The Guardian - Sport

It will go instead for deeper union.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "instead of" to express the idea of substituting one thing for another. For example, "I chose tea instead of coffee."

Common error

The common mistake is using "instead for" due to a misunderstanding of the correct preposition. Remember that "instead" requires "of" to properly convey substitution.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "instead for" functions incorrectly as a prepositional phrase intended to indicate substitution. However, it violates standard English grammar rules. As Ludwig AI notes, the correct form is "instead of".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Wiki

23%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "instead for" appears with some frequency across different types of sources, including News & Media, Wiki, and Science, it is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase to use is "instead of", which effectively conveys the intended meaning of substitution. Ludwig AI clearly indicates that "instead for" does not follow standard English grammar rules. Therefore, it is best to avoid using "instead for" and opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "instead of", "rather than", or "in place of" for clear and accurate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

instead of

Replaces the preposition "for" with "of" to create a grammatically correct phrase indicating substitution.

rather than

Indicates a preference or choice between two options, similar to substitution.

as an alternative to

Similar to "instead of" but with slightly different phrasing.

as a substitute for

More formal phrase that emphasizes the replacement aspect.

in place of

Emphasizes the act of taking the position of something else.

alternatively

A single word adverb indicating an alternative option.

in lieu of

A more formal synonym for "instead of".

by contrast

Highlights the difference when making a substitution.

to replace

Highlights the act of substitution.

on the other hand

Introduces an opposing option or perspective.

FAQs

What's the correct way to use "instead" in a sentence?

The correct phrasing is "instead of". For example, you should say "I chose the apple "instead of" the orange".

Is "instead for" grammatically correct?

No, "instead for" is not grammatically correct. The correct phrase is ""instead of"".

What can I use "instead of" "instead for"?

You can use phrases like "rather than", "in place of", or "as a substitute for".

How does ""instead of"" differ from "rather than"?

While both express substitution, ""instead of"" is a more general replacement, while "rather than" often implies a preference.