the best choice of word for this example please?

[LeTyan]

Dear teachers:

Please take a look at the example below:

"Are you trying to mislead them?"
"No, I am not trying to mislead them, _____, I am leading them onto the right track!"

At first I thought the word "instead" would work, then it just didn't sound quite right to me.

Is "instead" Ok in here or are there any better choices(either words or phrases)?

Thanks!

[Gillnetter]

Dear teachers:

Please take a look at the example below:

"Are you trying to mislead them?"
"No, I am not trying to mislead them, _____, I am leading them onto the right track!"

At first I thought the word "instead" would work, then it just didn't sound quite right to me.

Is "instead" Ok in here or are there any better choices(either words or phrases)?
Actually, In fact, really, in truth, the truth is, to the contrary, just the opposite, etc., etc., and etc.

Thanks!

Gil

[LeTyan]

So exhaustive!!! Thank you Gil!

[emsr2d2]

In BrE, Gil's "to the contrary" would be "on the contrary".

[Rover_KE]

After 'mislead them', a semicolon would be the correct punctuation.

Rover

[SoothingDave]

"Rather" is an option as well.

[Grumpy]

Alternatively, I could think of a few expletives which would fit nicely....

[BobK]

"Rather" is an option as well.

Having seen the first few posts in this thread, I was beinning to thionk that 'rather' was a specifically Br Eng option. But obviously it's not .

b