not only rather

USAGE SUMMARY

It is correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to introduce an additional element to a sentence. For example: "Not only rather than try to figure it out themselves, they decided to hire an expert."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

I concluded that he was not only rather enjoying being prime minister, but appeared to be rather good at it.

The Guardian

It's not only rather nice news for EA, the game has also delivered a hefty adrenaline boost to UK game sales figures.

The Guardian - Tech

And to suggest it does – and can somehow prevent the 19,000 bicycle accidents the publicity material suggests happen in the UK each year – is not only rather misleading but also irresponsible.

The Guardian - Tech

The one city he did get to build, Chandigarh, capital of India's Punjab state, is not only rather beautiful but represents an authentic postcolonial civic architectural identity - especially in comparison to, say, Lutyens' neoclassical government buildings in New Delhi.

The Guardian - Arts

He joined Lennon and Jagger as English working-class heroes turned American tax dodgers who discovered that socialism, as a youthful ideal, is great fun, but in practice - national health service, tuition-free universities, etc. — it is not only rather boring but also pretty expensive for those who are fortunate enough not to need it.

The New York Times - Books

5 The Hercynian Forest is not only rather dense, but also has large trees, and comprises a large circuit within regions that are fortified by nature; in the centre of it, however, lies a country (of which I have already spoken 31 that is capable of affording an excellent livelihood.

University of Chicago

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Not only did Rather find it hard to let go but his future at CBS was suddenly unclear.

The New Yorker

And those were the days, as Amanda Triossi, the exhibition's curator points out, when the movie divas not only bought, rather than borrowed, their jewels, but even wore their gems proudly in films and elsewhere.

The New York Times

Clive Woodward not only seemed rather unenthused by his side's record winning margin over Wales and the registration of their first Triple Crown in four years, he seemed to feel the need to make excuses for the performance.

The Guardian - Sport

By the way, when I stood in the cemetery at West Point, I tried hard to connect to a tradition not only military, rather "our" collective history.

Huffington Post

And part of the safety trick, it seems, is not only flying rather than driving on long trips, but selecting air routes that are nonstop, or at least as close to nonstop as possible.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not only rather" to introduce an unexpected or less obvious element in addition to the primary one being discussed. This can add nuance and depth to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "not only rather but also". The phrase "not only...but also" is a complete construction; adding "rather" makes it redundant. Stick to either "not only...but also" or "not only...rather" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not only rather" functions as a correlative conjunction, introducing a pair of related elements within a sentence. This construction sets up an expectation that the second element will provide additional, and possibly surprising, information. Ludwig confirms the grammatical correctness and provides diverse examples of its usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

31%

Academia

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

12%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not only rather" is a grammatically sound, though uncommon, correlative conjunction used to introduce a pair of related elements, often emphasizing a surprising or unexpected relationship. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, remember to avoid redundancy by not combining it with "but also". Use this phrase to add nuance and depth to your writing, especially in neutral to formal contexts. Consider alternative phrases like "not just but" or "in addition to" for more common or simplified expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not just instead

Replaces "only" with "just" and "rather" with "instead", offering a slightly different emphasis on the alternatives.

not merely but

Uses "merely" in place of "only" and "but" instead of "rather", softening the tone.

not solely but

Substitutes "only" with "solely" and "rather" with "but", highlighting exclusivity.

not exclusively but

Replaces "only" with "exclusively" and "rather" with "but", emphasizing the non-exclusive nature.

not simply but

Changes "only" to "simply" and "rather" to "but", suggesting straightforwardness.

not only but also

Omits "rather" and adds "also", creating a more standard correlative conjunction.

not just but also

Substitutes "only" with "just" and adds "also", forming a common alternative.

not only instead

Keeps "only" but replaces "rather" with "instead", offering a clearer substitution.

in addition to

Simplifies the construction by using "in addition to" to introduce the extra element.

as well as

Offers a more concise way to introduce an additional element.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "not only rather" in a sentence?

Use "not only rather" to emphasize a secondary element that might be surprising or less obvious. For example, "The solution is not only effective, rather it is surprisingly affordable."

What are some alternatives to "not only rather"?

You can use alternatives such as "not just but", "not merely but", or "in addition to" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "not only rather but also"?

No, "not only rather but also" is redundant. The correct forms are either "not only...but also" or "not only...rather."

What is the difference between "not only rather" and "not only but also"?

Both phrases introduce an additional element. "Not only...but also" is more common and emphasizes the connection between the elements, while "not only...rather" can introduce a surprising or less obvious point.