rather that

USAGE SUMMARY

"rather that" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to indicate a preference. For example, "I prefer to go to the beach rather that the mountains this weekend."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I'd rather that wasn't in the press".

The Guardian - Music

But he'd rather that didn't happen.

The New York Times

And we'd rather that happened then rather than later.

The New York Times

It is "believer-ignorance," rather, that might vitiate democratic legitimacy.

The New York Times

Diamond: Well, I'd rather, that might be the right initiative.

Forbes

I would rather that it wasn't personal".

The New York Times

Rather that asking "why the vagina?

The Guardian - Opinion

Rather, that possibility is dangled before us as an abstraction.

Independent

But rather that they be destroyed and incinerated".

Independent

She would rather that her children got the money".

The New York Times

It is, rather, that 27 countries have different interests.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "rather that" is sometimes used, especially in certain dialects, it's generally safer to use "rather than" in formal writing to avoid potential grammatical criticism.

Common error

The phrase "rather than" is typically the correct choice when indicating a preference. Double-check your usage to ensure you're not inadvertently using "rather that" when "rather than" is intended. For example, use "rather than".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather that" functions primarily as a conjunction, connecting two alternatives or options. While sometimes used to indicate preference, as shown by Ludwig, it's important to note that ""rather than"" is the standard and more accepted form for expressing preference in formal English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "rather that" exists and is used in certain contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science, it is generally considered less grammatically correct than ""rather than"". As Ludwig AI indicates, ""rather than"" is the preferred option for expressing a preference. It's advisable to use ""rather than"" in formal writing to avoid any potential grammatical issues. If you want to express a preference, consider alternative phrases like "instead of" or "as opposed to" depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rather than

Indicates a preference for one option over another; this is a more grammatically standard construction.

instead of

Focuses on replacing one thing with another, without necessarily implying preference.

as opposed to

Highlights a contrast or opposition between two options.

in preference to

More formal and explicitly indicates a favored choice.

more than

Implies a greater degree or extent, not necessarily a direct substitution.

in lieu of

Formal term indicating substitution or replacement.

as a substitute for

Emphasizes the act of replacing something with something else.

than

It is used for comparisons, but it needs a comparative adjective or adverb before it.

over

It implies a choice or preference of one thing in relation to another.

to

It needs to be preceded by a word that expresses preference like prefer.

FAQs

Is "rather that" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "rather that" is less common and generally considered less grammatically correct than ""rather than"". It's advisable to use "rather than" in formal writing.

When should I use "rather than" instead of "rather that"?

Use ""rather than"" when you want to express a preference for one thing over another. It is the more widely accepted and grammatically sound option.

What are some alternatives to using "rather that" or "rather than"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "instead of", "as opposed to", or "in preference to".

How does the meaning change if I use "rather that" instead of "rather than"?

The intended meaning is usually clear, but using "rather that" may be perceived as less formal or grammatically incorrect by some readers. Stick to ""rather than"" for clarity and wider acceptance.