But rather

Question

0I was doing some writing for work, and I wrote out a sentence...and now I can do nothing but stare at it. Is this the correct usage of the word rather, and if it is not, where does rather go? 02br02br02br02br00Example:02br02br00He is not lost but rather I am the lost one. 02br02br00Or as in my sentence to a colleague02br02br00You do not have to understand it completely, but rather have a general idea of the process.02br02br02br02br00Is that correct? It is bothering me and driving me mad. 0-

Clive · Accepted Answer

0Hi,02br
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01font00I was doing some writing for work, and I wrote out a sentence...and now I can do nothing but stare at it. Is this the correct usage of the word rather, and if it is not, where does rather go? 02font02br
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01font00Example:02font02br
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01font00He is not lost but rather I am the lost one. 02font00This is OK, but the sentence structure just 'feels' slightly awkward to me, perhaps because of the repetition of the 'lost' idea in both parts of the sentence. I prefer something like -02br
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00I, rather than he, am the lost one.02br
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01font00Or as in my sentence to a colleague02font02br
02br
01font00You do not have to understand it completely, but rather have a general idea of the process.02font02br
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01font00Is that correct? These are both OK. It is bothering me and driving me mad. 00This is great. I wish more people would get obsessed about whether their English is correct.05002font02br
02br
00Best wishes, Clive010id1

Anonymous · Answer

Hi Clive: What does it mean " but rather of" ?

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Please show us an example of a sentence that uses this.

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

IMO, both sentences are grammatically correct. For the sake of less awkward-sounding, simpler sentences that will make more sense when you speak them aloud, I would prefer to read something more like:

He is not lost; rather, I am the lost one.

You do not have to understand it completely; just have a general idea of the process.

Again, "but rather" is fine, but I feel it isn't the best choice to convey your message. I feel that "but rather" is best used (1) in longer sentences to help mask the awkwardness of the phrase. That is why I modified your first sentence, as the "but rather" will otherwise get in the way and overshadow the content and tone of your actual message.

I feel "but rather" can also be used (2) before a verb (such as you did in your second sentence). However, I have to point out that, in your second sentence, the second part of the sentence is not in contrast to the first part of the sentence.* Rather the second part is simply an extension of what is said in the first part. Therefore the use of "but", which is for contrast, seems weird. That is why I would modify the sentence so it has a semicolon. The semicolon fits exactly what you are trying to do, which is to extend the sentence with additional information. Semicolons don't get used often, but these two sentences are great opportunities to use them instead of "but rather". So it's basically a stylistic issue for me, not a grammar issue.

*For contrast, examine these two sentences:
-The boy unchained his bike and adjusted its chair only slightly.
-The boy unchained his bike and did not ride it.
Note that, in both sentences, you could replace "and" with "but" if you wanted to. But it would only make sense to do that in the second sentence, since the situation shows that "unchained his bike" and "did not ride it" would clearly be unusual whereas "unchained his bike" and "adjusted its chair only slightly" would not be unusual unless the author has provided you with information to suggest that it would, in fact, be unusual. Only the second sentence merits the use of "but" instead of just using "and" or a semicolon. Use "but" only with a contrast is made and you will find yourself in fewer situations that might encourage the use of "but rather".

Anonymous · Answer

"it's not fraud but rather a fact"....

hi, I just wanna know if my grammar is right, thank you

But rather

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