rather than doing

USAGE SUMMARY

"rather than doing" is a perfectly correct and usable form of expression in written English.
It is used to indicate a choice or preference between two or more alternatives. For example: I decided to go for a walk in the park rather than doing the housework.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"It's about feeling good rather than doing good.

The New York Times

"What you become responsible for is building a culture rather than doing all the work.

The New York Times - Arts

Where humans, rather than doing that, follow through and they start killing each other.

The New York Times

But this argues for acting quickly and carefully, rather than doing nothing.

The Economist

Rather than doing this, the European Union, the European Central Bank, and the I.M.F.

The New Yorker

(At critical moments, Korolev tends to be rescued by others, rather than doing the rescuing himself).

The New York Times

Wasting time rather than doing time is a far cry from the rehabilitation revolution.

The Guardian

"They would rather have Republicans do their own homework rather than doing it for them".

The New York Times

It needs to shift to doing better things - rather than doing things better - in three areas.

The Guardian - Opinion

"We are working through other organisations to create change rather than doing it ourselves," she says.

The Guardian

People were interested in what they had for themselves, rather than doing things together".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rather than doing" to clearly indicate a preference or substitution between two actions or states. Ensure the grammatical structure is parallel for both alternatives to maintain clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "rather than doing" when the elements being compared are not grammatically parallel. For example, instead of saying "I prefer reading rather than to watch TV", use "I prefer reading rather than watching TV" to maintain parallel structure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather than doing" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing an alternative action or state. It modifies a verb, noun, or clause by specifying what is not being done in favor of something else. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rather than doing" is a grammatically correct and versatile expression used to indicate a preference or substitution between actions. As Ludwig AI confirms, its widespread use makes it suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, science, and general writing. While "instead of doing" is a close synonym, "rather than doing" often implies a more deliberate choice. When using this phrase, ensure grammatical parallelism to maintain clarity. For more formal settings, consider alternatives like "as opposed to doing" or "in lieu of doing". With its frequent occurrence and clear function, mastering the use of "rather than doing" enhances writing precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

instead of doing

Replaces "rather than" with "instead of", maintaining a similar meaning but with a slightly different emphasis.

as opposed to doing

Offers a more formal alternative, highlighting the contrast between the two actions.

in lieu of doing

Provides a more formal and somewhat less common alternative, suggesting a substitution.

rather than undertake

Replaces "doing" with "undertake", suitable when referring to more formal tasks or projects.

instead of undertaking

Combines "instead of" with "undertaking", offering a slightly more verbose but equally valid alternative.

as a substitute for doing

More explicitly states that one action is replacing another.

in preference to doing

Emphasizes the preference for one action over another.

before doing

Shifts the focus to the temporal order, indicating what happens before another action, instead of direct substitution

opposed to undertaking

Similar to "as opposed to", but replaces "doing" with "undertaking", more suitable for formal contexts.

as an alternative to doing

Highlights the sense of choosing one action instead of another, emphasizing the choice aspect.

FAQs

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

Use "rather than doing" to express a preference for one action over another. For example, "I chose to exercise "rather than doing" housework today".

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

While similar, "instead of doing" often implies a simple substitution, whereas "rather than doing" can suggest a more deliberate choice or preference. In most contexts, they are interchangeable.

Is it incorrect to say "rather than do" instead of "rather than doing"?

While "rather than do" is grammatically acceptable, ""rather than doing"" emphasizes the action more directly and is often preferred when both options involve verbs in their gerund form for parallel structure.

What are some formal alternatives to "rather than doing"?

Formal alternatives include "as opposed to doing" or "in lieu of doing", which may be suitable for academic or professional writing.