"rather than representing" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use "rather than representing" when you want to express that something has a quality that differs from what it is being represented as having. Example: The blueberry muffin had a grassy flavor, rather than representing a sweet and fruity taste.
It's spending most of its time embarrassing students rather than representing them".
These genes, rather than representing a product in themselves, are guides to future product discovery.
that they may simply reflect a weak analogy or metaphor, rather than representing thermodynamic limits in a physical sense.
And they have always seemed minor adjuncts to their careers, rather than representing their primary means of expression.
PF: The idea that being female means you're part of a genre, rather than representing the mainstream, is completely extraordinary.
Rather than representing yet another sign of human hubris, this name change would stress the enormity of humanity's responsibility as stewards of the Earth.
The discussions were off-the-record, with each participant present in his or her own capacity, rather than representing an organization.
Rarely is anyone eager to initiate a cold call, especially to sell yourself rather than representing a professional service or product offering.
The workshop discussions were off-the-record, with each participant present in his or her own capacity, rather than representing an organization.
The dense, usually monospecific populations can best be explained through repeated colonisation events in a frequently hostile environment, rather than representing a range of different stable communities.
Unlike what has been proposed, the "Lime Fine" beds are interpreted herein to be of lacustrine origin, rather than representing a Kimmeridgian marine transgression.
