Is "instead" properly used here?

Question

The young man couldn't afford a new car. Instead, he bought a used one.

Enoon · Accepted Answer

Yes.

Wangqh2696122 · Answer

Can we use therefore here ?

Blue Jay · Answer

wangqh2696122 Can we use therefore here ?

Yes.

Wangqh2696122 · Answer

Which is better ?

Grammarfreak · Answer

This is a suggestion with the same core meaning:
Instead of buying a new car he couldn't afford, the young man bought a used one.

Blue Jay · Answer

Instead is used to imply a choice, even if the choice is being made to take something that is available rather than doing without something that is not available.
Usually I drink tea, but yesterday I decided I wanted coffee instead.
Usually I drink tea, but yesterday I was out of tea, so I drank coffee instead. (It was a choice between coffee or nothing)
Therefore indicates that there is a reason for the choice.
I'm out of tea, therefore I'm drinking coffee.

In your sentence either instead or therefore will work. It's up to you which you pick. Instead can go at the start of a sentence like yours, but it is more often placed at the end. He bought a used one instead. Therefore could go at the end, but is usually placed at the beginning. Therefore he bought a used one.

Is "instead" properly used here?

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