"Rather than" vs "Instead of"

[Nightmare85]

Hello guys,
Currently, I'm trying to understand that rule.
Today I found an interesting article:

Rather than - shows preference. This expression is generally used in 'parallel' structures. e.g - with two nouns, adjectives, adverbs, infinitives or -ing forms.

e.g

1). We ought to invest in machinery rather than buildings.
2). I prefer starting early rather than leaving things to the last minute.

When the main clause has a to - infinitive, rather than is usually followed by an infinitive without to or -ing form.

e.g - I decided to write rather than phone/phoning.

Instead of - suggests that one person, thing or action replaces another. Instead is not used alone as a preposition; we use the two words instead of.
Instead of is not usually followed by an infinitive.

e.g

1). I'll have tea instead of coffee, please.
2). I stayed in bed all day instead of going to work.
3). Amit was invited to the reception, but he was ill, so Akash went instead of him.

Note - Instead (without of) is an adverb. It begins or ends a clause usually.

e.g - She didn't go to Greece after all. Instead , she went to America.


NOTE :
Usage --- instead of + noun phrase. Instead of is only a preposition and can introduce only a phrase i.e no verb
Usage --- rather than + verb (or) rather than + noun. Further rather than can act as a preposition and can introduce a prepositional phrase or can act as a conjunction and introduce a clause

GMAT Grammar: Rather than vs Instead of

Unfortunately, I can't see a real difference here:
2). I prefer starting early rather than leaving things to the last minute.
2). I stayed in bed all day instead of going to work.
(Does the second sentence need the "instead of" because it's past?)

To me all these examples are the same; better said: I don't see a real reason why to use "rather than" or "instead of".

How about these sentences:
Instead of waiting for some nice weather, you should quickly run to the mall until it's too late.
I would prefer less money rather than more work.
Today I'll drive my dad's car instead of my car.
You can learn more rather than playing all the time.
:?:

Cheers!

 

[TheParser]

Hello guys,
Currently, I'm trying to understand that rule.
Today I found an interesting article:

GMAT Grammar: Rather than vs Instead of

Unfortunately, I can't see a real difference here:
2). I prefer starting early rather than leaving things to the last minute.
2). I stayed in bed all day instead of going to work.
(Does the second sentence need the "instead of" because it's past?)

To me all these examples are the same; better said: I don't see a real reason why to use "rather than" or "instead of".

How about these sentences:
Instead of waiting for some nice weather, you should quickly run to the mall until it's too late.
I would prefer less money rather than more work.
Today I'll drive my dad's car instead of my car.
You can learn more rather than playing all the time.
:?:

Cheers!

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Good morning, Nightmare.

(1) As I type this, no one else has yet answered. So may I start?

(2) This "rather than" matter is confusing to ordinary native speakers like me, too.

(3) If you get a chance, google the article on "rather than" in THE AMERICAN HERITAGE BOOK OF ENGLISH USAGE.

(a) The article is short.

(b) The article does a pretty good job of explaining this term.

(4) But the best thing is what it says in the last paragraph:

Just as you said, there is often little difference between "rather than" and "instead of."

So the article suggests that a person just use "instead of" + gerund whenever it is possible. Then one does not have to worry about trying to "balance" both sides of "rather than."

Have a nice day!

 

[BobK]

The key to the GMAT article is the clause '...one person, thing or action replaces another...'; it stands for the other thing. There is a quite archaic word, related - probably (I don't have time right now to look it up) - to 'stand': 'stead' ( some times used now in the phrase 'in its stead' [=instead of it], and visible in composite words like 'homestead' and 'steadfast').

But as TheParser said, its sometimes hard - if not impossible - to distinguish between the two. In some case it's clear:

I like ice-cream rather than custard.
But
Waiter, I'd like the cheese-cake, but with ice-cream instead of cream - this implies that the menu says 'cheesecake with cream'.

But often it's not so easy.

b