rather of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather of" is not correct and should not be used in written English.
The correct word to use is "rather than." For example: "I would rather take the bus rather than drive my own car today."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Or rather of returns.

Independent

The Dan Rather of Iran now lived in Encino.

The New York Times - Magazine

He should think rather of his place in history.

The Economist

Not one of gender dominance, rather of reliability.

The Guardian

The taxation of nonresidents derives from the principles not of distributive but rather of commutative justice.

Columbia University

Speak rather of that which relies because it works and it is.

The New York Times

These figures show that the main issue is not lack of will, but rather of feasibility.

Harvard Business Review

It was not a question of governing a state well but, rather, of governing oneself.

Britannica

Speak rather of that which relies, because it works and is".

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

It's not in a single strip mall, but it's a single row -- or two rows, rather -- of restaurants, mostly Korean.

Huffington Post

Until Sept. 11, CNN and Dan Rather of CBS often drew the sharpest criticism from conservatives.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "rather than" instead of "rather of" to ensure grammatical correctness. "Rather than" clearly indicates a preference or alternative.

Common error

Avoid using "rather of" in your writing. This phrase is grammatically incorrect and should be replaced with "rather than" to maintain clarity and accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather of" functions incorrectly as a prepositional phrase, attempting to express preference or comparison. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically unsound, recommending the use of alternatives such as "rather than".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Academia

27%

Science

24%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "rather of" appears frequently across various sources, it's essential to recognize that it is grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, the correct alternative is "rather than", which should be used to express preference or comparison. Although "rather of" may be encountered, especially in informal contexts or as an error, its use should be avoided in formal writing to maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity. Despite its prevalence, reliance on authoritative sources and proper grammatical structures is critical.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rather than

Replaces the incorrect preposition "of" with the correct "than" to indicate a preference or alternative.

instead of

Offers a direct substitution, indicating replacement or preference.

as opposed to

Highlights a contrast between two options or concepts.

in place of

Suggests a replacement, often in a more formal context.

compared to

Emphasizes a comparison, which can imply a preference or distinction.

more than

Highlights a greater degree or extent in one option over another.

over

Indicates a preference or superiority of one option.

to the exclusion of

Emphasizes that one option is chosen while specifically omitting another.

in preference to

A formal way of stating a preference for one thing over another.

rather

Uses "rather" alone to imply a preference, often requiring a restructuring of the sentence.

FAQs

Is "rather of" grammatically correct?

No, "rather of" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase to use is "rather than", which indicates a preference or alternative.

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

"Rather of" is not a recognized grammatical construction in standard English. Use "rather than" to correctly express a preference or alternative. For example, "I would prefer to stay home rather than go out".

When should I use "rather than"?

Use "rather than" when you want to indicate a preference or suggest an alternative. It connects two options, showing that one is chosen over the other. For example, "She chose to read a book rather than watch television".

What can I use instead of "rather of"?

Since "rather of" is incorrect, you should always use "rather than". Other alternatives, depending on the context, include "instead of" or "as opposed to".