unfortunately instead of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unfortunately instead of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing disappointment about a situation where one option was preferred over another. Example: "Unfortunately instead of going to the beach, we had to stay home due to the rain."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Unfortunately, instead of saying la droite (the political Right), he said le droit (the law).

The Guardian - Film

Unfortunately, instead of clarifying things, they mostly invite further conjecture and confusion.

The Guardian - Film

Unfortunately, instead of protests many of them saw CNN's veteran, Larry King, interviewing burly motorcycle-builders.

The Economist

Unfortunately, instead of engaging the B.D.P., the Turkish government has been harassing many of its members.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, instead of clutch shots, Miller's tenure in Miami has been headlined by countless injuries.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, instead of making my hair straight, the hairdresser decided to express herself through my natural curls.

The New Yorker

Unfortunately, instead of giving me his account number he gave me his on-line banking customer ID number.

The Guardian - Money

Ironically and unfortunately, instead of ameliorating the effects of economic slowdowns, our social safety net often acts to compound them.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, instead of informing people about Cuba's problems, we have managed to cultivate an image of out-of-control yahoos.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, instead of dealing with the problem of collapsed demand, Mr Koizumi seems content to carry on addressing the symptoms.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Unfortunately, Mr. Arafat, instead of coming back with a counteroffer of his own, rejected Mr. Barak's plan as insufficient and unleashed another uprising against Israel.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unfortunately instead of", ensure the contrast between the desired outcome and the actual outcome is clear to the reader. This helps emphasize the disappointment or negative consequence.

Common error

While "unfortunately instead of" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing. Consider more sophisticated alternatives like "regrettably in place of" or "it is regrettable that rather than" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unfortunately instead of" functions as a conjunctive phrase, indicating a disappointing substitution. As Ludwig AI shows, it connects a negative outcome with a preferred alternative, expressing regret or dismay. This phrase sets up a contrast between what was desired and what actually occurred.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

14%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unfortunately instead of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express disappointment when an undesired outcome replaces a preferred one. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its neutral register makes it suitable for various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While it effectively conveys regret, consider more formal alternatives for highly professional settings to enhance your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regrettably rather than

Substitutes "unfortunately" with "regrettably" and "instead of" with "rather than", emphasizing the speaker's regret.

sadly in lieu of

Replaces "unfortunately" with "sadly" and "instead of" with "in lieu of", maintaining a formal tone.

alas in place of

Replaces "unfortunately" with "alas" and "instead of" with "in place of", giving a more literary or dramatic feel.

to my dismay rather than

Replaces "unfortunately" with "to my dismay" and "instead of" with "rather than", highlighting personal disappointment.

it is regrettable that instead of

Expands "unfortunately" into "it is regrettable that", maintaining "instead of" for a more explicit expression of regret.

unluckily as opposed to

Swaps "unfortunately" for "unluckily" and "instead of" for "as opposed to", keeping a neutral tone.

it's a pity that instead of

Uses "it's a pity that" in place of "unfortunately", keeping "instead of" for a slightly less formal tone.

by misfortune in preference to

Replaces "unfortunately" with "by misfortune" and "instead of" with "in preference to", adding a more formal and descriptive tone.

contrary to expectations instead of

Replaces "unfortunately" with "contrary to expectations", emphasizing the unexpected negative outcome while retaining "instead of".

in an unfortunate turn instead of

Replaces "unfortunately" with "in an unfortunate turn", providing a more descriptive and nuanced tone while maintaining "instead of".

FAQs

How can I use "unfortunately instead of" in a sentence?

You can use "unfortunately instead of" to express disappointment when one thing happened when another was desired. For example, "Unfortunately instead of going to the park, we had to stay home because of the rain."

What is a more formal way to say "unfortunately instead of"?

For a more formal tone, you might use alternatives like "regrettably rather than" or "sadly in lieu of".

Is it grammatically correct to start a sentence with "unfortunately"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to start a sentence with "unfortunately". It functions as an adverb, modifying the entire sentence to convey a sense of regret or disappointment.

What's the difference between "unfortunately instead of" and "however"?

"Unfortunately instead of" specifically highlights a disappointing substitution, whereas "however" introduces a contrast or contradiction without necessarily implying disappointment.