rather than being

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'rather than being' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to express that one thing happens instead of another. For example: "She decided to stay in that night, rather than being out with her friends."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Rather than being offended, Ms. Simpson was intrigued.

The New York Times

Rather than being competitors, he said, they are complementary.

The New York Times - Tech

Rather than being bitter, American hammer throwers seem introspective.

The New York Times - Sports

Dead plant matter settles rather than being washed away.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Subjects focus on being human rather than being a subject".

The New Yorker

"It eats the jade, rather than being absorbed," he said.

The New York Times - Arts

Rather than being inspirational, it might just be depressing.

The New York Times

"Rather than being very defensive, there was much more receptiveness".

The New York Times

Rather than being cynics, we should be realists.

The New York Times

Rather than being of the moment, her beauty is timeless.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And rather than being on shelves, they're on the floor.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rather than being" to clearly indicate a preference or substitution between two actions or states. This helps to avoid ambiguity and strengthens the clarity of your writing.

Common error

Ensure that the elements being compared using "rather than being" are grammatically parallel. For example, use gerunds (verb+ing) on both sides of the phrase to maintain consistency and avoid awkward phrasing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather than being" functions as a conjunction, specifically to introduce an alternative or preference. It connects two actions or states, indicating that one is chosen or occurs in place of the other. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

47%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rather than being" is a grammatically correct and versatile conjunction used to express preference, substitution, or contrast. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used, particularly in news and scientific contexts. To ensure clarity, maintain parallel structure in your sentences. While alternatives like "instead of being" exist, "rather than being" is particularly useful for emphasizing the continuous nature of the compared actions or states. This analysis provides a thorough understanding of how to effectively use "rather than being" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

instead of being

This alternative directly replaces "rather than" with "instead of", maintaining the core meaning of substitution.

in preference to being

Expresses a clear preference for one option over another.

as opposed to being

This phrase introduces a contrast, similar to "rather than being", but with a slightly more formal tone.

rather than to be

Alters the structure, using the infinitive form 'to be' for a slightly different emphasis.

in place of being

This option highlights the replacement aspect, emphasizing that one thing is taking the position of another.

than to be

A shortened version of 'rather than to be', focusing on the comparison.

instead being

A more concise alternative, omitting "of" to streamline the expression.

more than being

Shifts the focus to emphasizing the greater importance or degree of one option over another.

as a substitute for being

This phrase clearly indicates that something is acting as a replacement.

contrary to being

Highlights opposition, focusing on the contrast between what is and what isn't.

FAQs

How can I use "rather than being" in a sentence?

Use "rather than being" to show a preference or alternative. For example, "She chose to stay home, "rather than being" out with friends".

What phrases are similar to "rather than being"?

Similar phrases include "instead of being", "as opposed to being", or "in place of being". Each offers a slightly different nuance while conveying a similar meaning of substitution.

Is it better to use "rather than" or "rather than being"?

The choice depends on the context. "Rather than" is often more concise when comparing nouns or infinitives, while ""rather than being"" is suitable when comparing continuous actions or states expressed as gerunds.

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

"Instead of" and ""rather than being"" are often interchangeable, but ""rather than being"" explicitly emphasizes the continuous nature of the alternative action or state. For example, "He preferred reading, "rather than being" on social media" highlights the activity of being on social media.