instead of that of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "instead of that of" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to compare two different subjects or objects, indicating a preference for one over the other. Example: "She chose to focus on her own career instead of that of her peers." Alternative expressions include "rather than that of" and "in place of that of."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

I wish the editors had chosen to put Will Allen's picture on the cover of the magazine instead of that of Gavin Newsom.

The New York Times

The mix-up resulted in the body of a man called Phil Bradburn being cremated instead of that of the West Midlands Conservative MEP Philip Bradbourn.

The Guardian

In 1954 Borba became the organ of Tito's newly established Socialist Alliance of the Working People of Yugoslavia, instead of that of the Communist Party.

Encyclopedia Britannica

To that extent, it is a perpetual motion machine, forever reinforcing the taste of art schools instead of that of the markets on which Bloomberg thrives.

Independent

They are living communities of individuals.' Critically, he believes that to describe them one must use the language of communities and individuals, instead of that of machines, which has distorted and complicated the whole enterprise of management.

The Guardian - Business

"How differently might the whole course of European history have unfolded," he wrote, in lines that might have accompanied the film credits to Anonymous, "if the policy of 'Shakespeare' had prevailed instead of that of the politicians of the time".

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

It is suggested that instead of claiming that one of the parties is the expert, a different perspective is seeing each party as an expert.

BMC Nursing

This flag was the same at the National Colonial Flag, except that the cross was blue instead of resembling that of St . George

Wikipedia

"The previous administration used the state to appoint its supporters instead of people that were capable of doing that work.

The Guardian

That is what this program has needed, instead of everything that goes on outside of it".

The New York Times - Sports

For example, one might say that 'x is a poor philosopher' is true of Tom instead of saying that Tom has the property of being a poor philosopher.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "instead of that of", ensure that the items being compared are grammatically parallel to maintain clarity and flow.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by ensuring the "that" in "instead of that of" clearly refers back to a specific noun or concept. If the reference is unclear, rephrase the sentence for better clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "instead of that of" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating substitution or preference. It is used to compare two items or concepts, suggesting that one is being chosen or used in place of the other, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "instead of that of" is a grammatically sound and commonly used prepositional phrase that indicates substitution or preference between two comparable items. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is most frequently found in scientific, news, and encyclopedic contexts and should be used to clearly compare alternatives. When incorporating this phrase, ensure grammatical parallelism and clear pronoun references to avoid ambiguity. For similar expressions, consider "rather than that of" or "in place of that of" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rather than that of

A more formal synonym, emphasizing contrast.

in place of that of

Emphasizes replacement more directly.

as opposed to that of

Highlights a direct opposition between two options.

in lieu of that of

A more formal and less common substitute.

compared to that of

Focuses on a comparison showing preference.

contrary to that of

Highlights a contradiction or opposing view.

in contrast to that of

Similar to 'as opposed to', but slightly less direct.

not that of

A more direct negation and substitution.

alternatively to that of

Suggests another option is being chosen.

in preference to that of

Clearly indicates a preferred choice.

FAQs

How can I use "instead of that of" in a sentence?

Use "instead of that of" to compare two things and indicate a preference for one. For example, "She chose to focus on her career "instead of that of" her spouse".

What are some alternatives to "instead of that of"?

You can use alternatives like "rather than that of", "in place of that of", or "as opposed to that of" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to use "instead of that of"?

Yes, "instead of that of" is grammatically correct and widely used in formal and informal writing. Ludwig AI confirms its validity.

What's the difference between "instead of that of" and "rather than that of"?

While both phrases are similar, ""instead of that of"" generally implies a direct substitution, whereas "rather than that of" can suggest a preference or choice, with a slightly more formal tone.