"instead of happening" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used as an alternative to saying something did not occur. For example: "We had planned to go to the beach on Saturday, but the rain meant our plans had to be cancelled instead of happening."
The energy revolution, instead of happening piecemeal, over decades, could take place fast enough to actually help an overheating planet.
Instead of happening over 10,000 years, it's happening over less than 100 years in most cases.
But instead of happening on one day in many locations, the Big Draw in 2010 will unfold at different sites throughout the year.
That way, feedback will become embedded in the culture instead of happening ad hoc in out-of-the-blue "gotcha" sessions or too infrequently, at annual review time.
He also includes illustrative vignettes that will be familiar to readers of "Matterhorn," the signal difference being that instead of happening to the fictional Lieutenant Mellas they now befall the actual Lieutenant Marlantes.
Joyce inserted into it hundreds of rhetorical figures and many references to winds—something "blows up" instead of happening, people "raise the wind" when they are getting money and the reader becomes aware of an unusual liveliness in the very texture of the prose.
Of course, the BookBook is hand-distressed, but instead of it happening over years, it happens rather quickly in order to make it a marketable product.
The official change to hearts, away from stars, and likes instead of favorites, happened on the 3rd.
"For example, if I'd scored the penalty shot in the first leg, it would be a 4-1 game instead of what happened.
Instead of what happened, which is the Obamas got a dog.
Focus on what the day will bring you instead of what happened yesterday or what you'll be able to change about tomorrow.
