rather when

USAGE SUMMARY

'rather when' is not correct and not usable in written English.
The correct usage is 'rather than'. For example, "I would rather eat at home than go out tonight."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Or rather, when to review?

The New York Times

Rather, when do we grasp, emotionally, where things really stand?

The New York Times - Health

Or rather, when 50 Cent was indestructible, he was a rapper.

The New York Times - Arts

Or rather, when Lil Wayne was indestructible, he was a rapper.

The New York Times - Arts

The problem arises not when we act together, but rather when we don't.

The New York Times

It came, rather, when the Kels called their flood insurance company to report the damage.

The New York Times

If – or rather when – that happens, 2015 will have been a significant catalyst.

The Guardian - Sport

Rather, when we learn Ben's secret, our horror mirrors his at what he was capable of.

The Guardian - Books

"It's not a matter of if, but rather when," he said.

The New York Times

Rather, when the son returns, the father spontaneously throws a party.

The Guardian - Opinion

When are women at war — or, rather, when do they count as warriors?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, replace "rather when" with more precise alternatives like "rather than when" or "instead of when" to ensure grammatical correctness and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "rather when" as a substitute for "rather than". While seemingly similar, "rather when" is grammatically incorrect. Use "rather than" to introduce an alternative or preference.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather when" functions as an adverbial phrase attempting to modify a verb by indicating a time or condition preference. As Ludwig AI indicates, the usage is not grammatically correct and is generally replaced by phrases like "rather than when."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

37%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "rather when" appears in various sources, it is considered grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, it should be replaced with phrases like "rather than when" or "instead of when" to ensure grammatical accuracy and clarity. The phrase attempts to express a preference in timing or conditions, however, its usage is flawed and best avoided. Although found in diverse sources like news, science, and encyclopedias, its presence does not legitimize its usage; therefore, writers should opt for grammatically sound alternatives to maintain credibility and professionalism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rather than when

This substitutes "rather when" with the correct phrase "rather than when", for proper grammar.

instead of when

Replaces "rather" with "instead of" to indicate a preference or alternative circumstance.

as opposed to when

Similar to "instead of when", this emphasizes a contrast in timing or conditions.

instead when

A slightly simpler phrasing to convey the sense of choosing one time over another.

alternatively when

Expresses another option regarding time.

in place of when

Offers a formal alternative indicating substitution of timing.

conversely when

Indicates an opposite or alternative timing.

on the other hand when

Introduces a contrasting scenario related to timing.

as an alternative to when

Formally presents another option concerning timing.

by contrast when

Highlights a differing timeframe or condition.

FAQs

What does "rather when" usually intend to convey?

Typically, "rather when" is used to convey a sense of preference or substitution in timing, similar to "rather than". However, it's grammatically incorrect.

Is "rather when" grammatically correct?

No, "rather when" is not grammatically correct. The proper phrasing to indicate a preference or alternative is "rather than".

When is it appropriate to use "rather when"?

"Rather when" is generally inappropriate for formal writing. Consider using "rather than when" or "instead of when" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

What are some alternatives to "rather when"?

Alternatives include "rather than when", "instead of when", or simply using "when" with adjusted sentence structure for clarity.