How to use "instead" correctly?

Question

How to use "instead" correctly? Can I say the follow sentences like that :

1) New York is not a small city. It is quite big instead.

2) I would rather to use a real gun to shoot alien instead of using a water gun.

3) California is beautiful instead of like my friends said that it is darkness.

4) Which one you like better(or should I use more?Or it is fine with better?), ice cream of potato chips? I prefer to have an ice cream instead.

Thanks so much.

Emmeladelyn · Accepted Answer

Hi,

instead basically means "in the place of" or "alternatively".

1) The word "actually" or "really" would be more appropriate here, as no one is choosing between a small New York and a big New York, they are affirming the fact that it is a big city, not a small one. "Really" and "Actually" emphasise this.
2) I would rather use a real gun to shoot an alien/aliens instead of using a water gun.
3) Again there is no choice in the sentence between beauty and darkness. There is no alternative, just fact. I would probably use "although" here to contrast my opinion and the opinion of my friends.
4) In this sentence, "instead" would only be necessary if you said instead of what in the same sentence: "I prefer to have an ice cream instead of potato chips."
Also, "I'd rather have..." would be more natural here than "i prefer..."

I hope this is helpful to you.

Anonymous · Answer

wow!

It's the first time that I've visited this website.

It's really interesting and very useful for me, a Thai student majoring English.

I'm Ratthasart, 21-year-old boy.

Would you please explain some questions?

1. How do we use "inasmuch as" correctly following the grammatical rules?

2. How do we use "notwithstanding, conversely" correctly following the grammatical rules?

3. How do we use "rather" correctly ?

It means "quite, fairly, pretty, relatively, comparatively, kind of, sort of, somewhat" ?

On the other hand, it is used in the contrast meaning, right ?

Thank you very much ^^ ??????????

I love English !

ps. now I'm addicted "Etymology". Where can i find the Etymology dictionary? Here scarcely it is, Thailand.

Anonymous · Answer

Hello,

I have one more question regarding the usage of 'instead'.
I guess that it is correct to say:
Aspirine is not good for your child. You should use paracetamol instead of aspirine.
My question is if I can say shorter:
Aspirine is not good for your child. You should use paracetamol instead.

Thank you in advance
ZK from Poland

Endeavour · Answer

Hello ZK.

Your second sentence is absolutely correct and neater as well. Your first phrase is kind of repetitive in fact, as aspirine has already been mentioned at the beginning, you do not need to bring it up twice.

Good day,
Endeavour

Anonymous · Answer

Hi, I don't speak English very well, yet. But I am studying a lot. My question is: When I use "instead" and when I use "instead of". In othes words: what the diference between "instead" and "instead of"? I know what the word mean, but I don't understand the diference.

Thank you,

Anonymous · Answer

There is no such thing as an "etymology dictionary."

"In as much as" is a phrase comprising four separate words, like the phrase "a lot."

"Driving a car causes much pollution; notwithstanding, millions of people continue to drive." ("Notwithstanding" means "in spite of this" or "nevertheless.")

"Many people like chocolate ice cream. Conversely, some detest chocolate ice cream entirely and opt for vanilla ice cream." ("Conversely" demonstrates a contrast between the preceding sentence and sentence to which "conversely" belongs.)

"It is rather unfair that he gets a candy but I do not."

"Rather" can be used to emphasize an adjective, but this is not really colloquial and sounds archaic.
"Rather" can also mean "quite," "relatively," or "somewhat"? (Just saying--your question marks should not be spaced apart from the sentence; rather, they should be placed directly after the sentence.)

"Cleopatra was not technically Egyptian, although she spoke the language of Egypt. Rather, her ancestors were all Greek."

Rather can also be used, as you said, to demonstrate a contrast.

(I would give you a written lecture on prepositional phrases and the difference between copulas and auxiliaries, but I cannot.)

Hope this helps!

Anonymous · Answer

First of all, the word 'but' is a conjunction which helps join two sentences together, so use it instead of the full stop between your first two sentences.
That is a good example of the answer to your question; 'instead of' is followed by a noun (instead of the full stop) or a verb in the --ing form (instead of using the full stop)
The word 'instead' is used to show that a replacement has taken place and is actually a shortened version of the first use, e.g.
"I can't meet you tomorrow. Shall we meet the day after tomorrow instead?" = 'instead of tomorrow?'

Anonymous · Answer

Hi,
First of all, you can put the first two sentences of your post together by using the word 'but' as a conjunction instead of separating them with a full stop.
There...I just showed you how to use 'instead of'.
It is followed by either the gerund (ing form of the verb) or by a noun. Here's an example:

I want to cook curry instead of having pizza again for dinner tonight.
I want curry instead of pizza for dinner tonight.

The word 'instead' on its own is really a shortened version of the sentences above.
I don't want pizza; I want curry instead. (you mean 'instead of pizza' but you don't need to repeat the word)

Anonymous · Answer

Good explanation and it clarifies me wrong usage of instead and instead of.
Thanks Dude....

Anonymous · Answer

Hi!

If you are keen on etymology, there are some tools you could use.

Here is a link to an online etymology dictionary: http://www.etymonline.com/

Also, I'd suggest you take a look here https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/indoeurop.html that is the online version of The American Heritage Dictionary of Indo-European Roots, which reconstructs word-formation back to the Indo-European language (which is considered an ancient common language back to which almost all, if not all, languages people speak in the world could be traced) for hundreds and hundreds of common and not so common terms in (North American) English.

Also, you could take a look at the Oxford English Dictionary (http://www.oed.com/), which usually does the same as The American Heritage as well as giving you all definitions of words. It's deemed to be the most exhaustive dictionary of the English language.

Hope this helps

Silvia
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