rather for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather for" is not commonly used in written English and may not be considered correct in most contexts.
It could potentially be used in specific contexts where it implies a preference for something, but it is generally awkward and unclear. Example: "I would prefer to go to the beach rather for a hike today."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Or rather for him.

The New York Times

It is rather for simple aesthetic consistency.

The Economist

Or rather, for what?

The Guardian

Should we go rather for 'managed decline'?

The Guardian

Their prospects call, rather, for deliberation and calculation.

The New Yorker

We speak of a dedication of the disclosure, but that is rather for convenience.

Harvard University

Treatments based on such knowledge appear appropriate rather for prevention than treatment of manifest disease.

European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics

It no longer stands for sovereign statehood, but rather for effective devolution of power.

The Guardian

Vaughn said he never really took the supplement for weight loss, but rather for building energy.

The New York Times - Sports

Or rather, for as long as they need to make sure the World Cup runs smoothly.

The Guardian - Opinion

Blair becomes the model political relationship for Murdoch – or, rather, for the Murdoch family.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Replace "rather for" with more precise and commonly accepted alternatives like "instead of" or "rather than" to improve clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "rather for" when you intend to express preference or substitution; it often leads to awkward sentences. Opt for alternatives that clearly convey your intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather for" functions as a prepositional phrase, often attempting to express preference, cause, or purpose. As Ludwig AI points out, it's often grammatically incorrect and can lead to awkward sentence constructions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

31%

Academia

11%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "rather for" appears in a variety of sources, Ludwig AI suggests that it is often grammatically incorrect and leads to awkward phrasing. As a prepositional phrase, it attempts to convey preference, cause, or purpose, but clearer alternatives like "instead of" or "rather than" typically provide better clarity. Its presence across news, scientific, and academic sources suggests a neutral register, but it should be avoided in formal writing. Therefore, while frequently used, it is advisable to opt for more standard and precise alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

instead of

Replaces "rather for" to indicate a preference or substitution.

rather than

Similar to "instead of", offering a clearer contrast between choices.

as opposed to

Emphasizes a contrast, providing a more formal alternative.

in place of

Suggests a direct replacement or substitution.

for the sake of

Highlights the purpose or reason for an action.

due to

Indicates a cause or reason, offering a direct explanation.

because of

Similar to "due to", providing a causal relationship.

on account of

More formal way of saying "because of".

in order to

Expresses the intention or purpose behind an action.

so that

Indicates the intended result or outcome of an action.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "rather for"?

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

When is it appropriate to use "rather for"?

While "rather for" appears in some contexts, it's often considered awkward. Using clearer alternatives like "instead of" or "rather than" generally improves clarity.

Is "rather for" grammatically correct?

The phrase "rather for" is not generally considered grammatically correct in standard English. Alternatives such as "instead of" or "due to" are preferable for clearer communication.

What's the difference between "rather for" and "rather than"?

"Rather than" is a standard phrase used to express preference or contrast, while "rather for" is less common and often results in awkward phrasing. It's best to use "rather than" for clarity.