rather than delivering

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather than delivering" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a preference for one action over another, often contrasting two different approaches or outcomes. Example: "The team focused on improving user experience rather than delivering a product that simply meets the minimum requirements."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

People think you're trying to dump your rejects, rather than delivering real value.

The New Yorker

Rather than delivering a corrective to the one-sided view from Washington, they deliver its mirror image.

The New York Times - Books

Rather than delivering dishes with confidence, they are happy to let diners speak up and claim their orders.

The New York Times

So far the government has tinkered round the edges of the care system rather than delivering real change.

The Guardian

The video baffles, taking you on a journey of sorts rather than delivering a message or meaning.

The New York Times

"Ministers are busy rubbing shoulders with an exclusive network of big money backers rather than delivering for working people.

The Guardian

Rather than delivering the customary laureate's address when he accepts the award, on December 10th, he will play a piece on the piano using only his left hand.

The New Yorker

But in explaining their specific steps, American officials sounded as if they were reaffirming a valuable relationship rather than delivering a rebuke.

The New York Times

Rather than delivering a point-by-point rebuttal to Chait, I'll just compare our track records as analysts of Republican primary dynamics.

The New York Times

Time Warner, under Mr. Bewkes, who became chief in 2007, has become a stripped-down conglomerate focused on producing content rather than delivering it.

The New York Times

Suppliers need to hop over the fence and understand what customers really need, rather than delivering the juice in a manner that best suits themselves.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "rather than delivering", ensure the contrasted elements are parallel in structure for clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "rather than delivering" to compare items that are not grammatically parallel. For instance, don't say "Rather than delivering a presentation, he procrastinated." Instead, use "Rather than delivering a presentation, he spent time procrastinating."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather than delivering" functions as a conjunctive adverbial phrase, connecting two contrasting actions or states. It introduces an alternative to a previously mentioned action, indicating a preference or choice. Ludwig AI examples illustrate its use in various contexts to present alternative courses of action or outcomes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

27%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rather than delivering" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to contrast two actions, indicating a preference or alternative. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it appears frequently in news, science, and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure parallelism in sentence structure and consider alternatives like "instead of delivering" for slight variations in emphasis. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and wide applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

instead of delivering

This alternative directly substitutes "rather than" with "instead of", maintaining a similar meaning and structure.

as opposed to delivering

This phrase provides a contrast, highlighting the alternative action or outcome to delivering.

in place of delivering

This suggests a replacement of one action with another, similar to the original phrase's function.

instead of providing

Replaces both "rather than" and "delivering" with "instead of" and "providing" respectively, maintaining a similar meaning.

rather than supplying

Substitutes "delivering" with "supplying", offering a slight variation in the type of action being contrasted.

in preference to delivering

This alternative emphasizes a preference for one action over another, offering a slightly more formal tone.

as a substitute for delivering

Highlights the substitution aspect, emphasizing that one action is being replaced by another.

rather than the delivery of

Rephrases the sentence to focus on the noun form "delivery", instead of the verb form "delivering".

opposed to the delivery of

Changes the focus from the verb to the noun, indicating that something is opposed to the act of delivering.

not delivering, but

This simplifies the structure, focusing on what is being done instead of delivering.

FAQs

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

Use "rather than delivering" to show a preference or alternative action. For example, "The company focused on improving customer service "rather than delivering" new products this quarter".

What are some alternatives to using "rather than delivering"?

You can use phrases such as "instead of delivering", "as opposed to delivering", or "in place of delivering" to convey a similar meaning.

Is there a difference between "instead of delivering" and "rather than delivering"?

While both phrases are similar, ""rather than delivering"" can sometimes imply a stronger sense of preference or contrast compared to "instead of delivering", although they are often interchangeable.

When is it appropriate to use "rather than delivering" in formal writing?

"Rather than delivering" is appropriate for formal writing when you need to clearly contrast two options or actions. Ensure the sentence structure is clear and that the comparison is logical.