rather because of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather because of" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It can be used when attempting to clarify a reason or cause, but it is better to use more conventional phrases. Example: "The project failed, rather because of poor planning than lack of resources."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

This fall may not be in spite of their lives' advantages but rather because of them.

The New York Times

It is rather because of two dramatic shifts in our world.

The Guardian

Despite (or rather because of) the aesthetic clashes, it hangs together in a supremely atmospheric whole.

The Guardian - Music

Government debt surged from 2008, not because of Greek-style profligacy but rather because of an Irish-style banking disaster.

The New York Times

The officials said the changes were made not because the track was unsafe, but rather because of the "emotional component".

The New York Times - Sports

Mrs. Spann said her husband "was a hero not because of the way he died, but rather because of the way that he lived".

The New York Times

It seems to me that the woman can wear Louboutin's shoes not in spite of using a wheelchair but, rather, because of it.

The New Yorker

They didn't land on the cover via their talent, peerage or tragedy but rather because of an unanticipated shift in the celebrity economy during the past few years.

The New York Times - Arts

Rather, because of air flow, the source could be in an upper floor of a building or the opposite side of the room.

The New York Times - Science

And yet, or rather because of, this narrower vision it is about as charming an hour of television as anyone female could hope to stay home for.

The New York Times - Arts

Ms. Krim's blog is not the first to have uncomfortably emerged into the public eye after — or rather, because of — a public tragedy.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using alternatives like "more due to" or "instead because of" for a more concise and stylistically varied sentence.

Common error

Avoid overuse of "rather because of", as it can make writing sound repetitive. Opt for synonyms or rephrase sentences for better flow and readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather because of" functions as a causal connector, introducing a corrected or more accurate reason for an event or situation. Ludwig's examples indicate it often follows a negative statement, clarifying the actual cause.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "rather because of" serves to clarify or correct the cause of an event or situation. While grammatically acceptable and widely used, as shown by Ludwig's examples, it's often more effective to use concise alternatives like "more due to" or "instead because of". Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase appears in neutral contexts, including news and scientific articles. The best practice is to use it deliberately to introduce a more accurate explanation, but avoid overusing it to maintain a clear and flowing writing style.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more due to

Emphasizes the primary reason for something, often used to refine an initial assessment.

instead because of

Highlights a replacement cause, indicating that the first cause is incorrect or less important.

primarily as a result of

Focuses on the main outcome or effect caused by something.

owing principally to

A more formal expression indicating the main reason or cause.

largely attributable to

Suggests that something can be mainly credited to a specific cause.

on account of

Offers a straightforward explanation for something.

by reason of

Formal and somewhat archaic, indicating a legal or official justification.

in light of

Indicates that new information is the reason for something.

attributable more to

Highlights that something should be ascribed more to one cause than another.

stemming predominantly from

Indicates the origin or source of something, with an emphasis on its primary cause.

FAQs

What does "rather because of" mean?

The phrase "rather because of" is used to clarify or correct a reason. It suggests that something happened not for the initially stated reason, but "instead because of" a different, more accurate cause.

How can I use "rather because of" in a sentence?

You can use "rather because of" to introduce a more accurate explanation. Example: "The team didn't succeed because of luck, "rather because of" diligent preparation and hard work."

What can I say instead of "rather because of"?

You can use alternatives like "more due to", ""instead because of"", or "primarily as a result of" depending on the context.

Is "rather because of" grammatically correct?

While "rather because of" is commonly used, it can be slightly redundant. It is generally considered acceptable, but "more concise options" often improve clarity and flow.