since rather

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "since rather" is not correct and usable in written English.
It appears to be a combination of two separate ideas or phrases that do not work together cohesively. Example: "Since rather than focusing on the negatives, we should look for solutions."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Even so, the report is rigorously apolitical, since rather than trumpet the biggest accomplishments first, it lists everything alphabetically by city agency.

The New York Times

The presence of Tina Fey and Steve Carell in the main roles may promise something more, since rather than being the usual mismatched, nice-looking pair of romantic comedy corn muffins, they are accomplished professional funny people.

The New York Times

And despite the attempts of later historians including Daniel Snowman and Niall Ferguson to bring in some rules and rigour, that is how it has stayed since – "rather than 'what if', it's really little more than 'if only'".

The Guardian - Books

Now, on the one hand this seems perhaps overly cautious, since rather than refusing to take any more bets, the bookmakers could have simply significantly lowered the odds on aliens appearing.

The New Yorker

The cute look is said to signify an assertion of independence on the part of the young women who adopt it, since, rather than simply putting on an ensemble presented to them by a designer, they are creating their own whimsical outfits and giving their inventiveness free rein.

The New Yorker

Virtually every big firm in Silicon Valley is a spin-off from another one.Intel has since rather hypocritically griped about "vulture capitalists" that lure away the talent it has trained, but most denizens of the valley take a more relaxed attitude.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

We also defined gestational age as time since conception, rather than time since the mother's last menstrual period.

The Economist

Since then, rather than increasingly clobbering the middle classes, inheritance tax has been dramatically reduced.

The Guardian - Money

So what have you been up to since a rather fantastic summer?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Since then, rather than make amends, he has compounded the sin.

The New York Times - Magazine

Since 2008, rather than an unsustainable growth, the percentage of those on welfare has risen from 21.6%to22.1%1%.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "since rather" in your writing. It's generally considered grammatically incorrect. Instead, opt for clearer and more direct alternatives like "because instead" or "as opposed to".

Common error

A common mistake is blending the causal function of "since" with the comparative function of "rather". To avoid this, clearly separate the cause and the comparison. For instance, rewrite "Since rather than focusing on the negatives, we should look for solutions" as "Because we should look for solutions "instead of" focusing on the negatives."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "since rather" attempts to function as a causal connector combined with a comparative element. Ludwig AI points out that it's not considered correct in standard English. Instead, clearer expressions like "because instead" are recommended to convey the intended meaning effectively.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "since rather" appears in various contexts, it is deemed grammatically incorrect by Ludwig AI. Its intended purpose is to provide a reason followed by a comparison or substitution, but its structure is unsound. As a common mistake blending causal and comparative structures, it's best to avoid "since rather" in favor of clearer alternatives like "because instead" or "as opposed to". These alternatives ensure better communication and are more appropriate for formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

because instead

Replaces "since rather" with a more direct causal conjunction and contrast.

as opposed to

Offers a clear contrastive meaning in place of the combined phrase.

rather than because

Inverts the order to emphasize the preference, changing the causal focus.

given that instead

Uses a formal tone to introduce a reason and a substitute.

considering that instead

Highlights the consideration of a factor leading to a contrasting action.

in light of this instead

Suggests a more formal and emphatic substitution based on prior information.

seeing that instead

Offers a more informal way to indicate a cause followed by a substitution.

in view of this instead

Implies a substitution based on considering a particular circumstance.

because in its place

Emphasizes the substitution due to a reason.

in place of because

Focuses on replacing a cause with something else.

FAQs

Is "since rather" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "since rather" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. It combines a causal conjunction with a comparative element in a way that doesn't form a coherent structure.

What can I say instead of "since rather"?

You can use alternatives like "because instead" or "as opposed to" depending on the intended meaning. These options provide clearer and more grammatically sound connections between ideas.

How can I rephrase a sentence that uses "since rather"?

Identify the causal relationship and the comparison you're trying to make. Then, use separate phrases to express each idea clearly. For example, instead of "Since rather than going to the party, I stayed home", try "Because I wanted to rest, I stayed home "instead of" going to the party".

What is the difference between "since" and "rather"?

"Since" is a conjunction used to indicate a reason or cause, while "rather" is an adverb used to express preference or contrast. Combining them directly doesn't create a grammatically correct phrase. Use them separately to convey your intended meaning accurately.