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Cogar Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
"rather than" VS "instead"
hello,
What is the difference between "rather than" and "instead"?
I would watch movie A (rather than / instead of) movie B.
What is the difference between "rather than" and "instead"?
I would watch movie A (rather than / instead of) movie B.
Top answer
" "Instead" could mean you picked it by chance, or for some reason beyond your control. The problem with this particular example is the use of "would," which has a built-in "preference" meaning. When you say, "I would watch A instead of B," it usually means you prefer it.
- " "Instead" could mean you picked it by chance, or for some reason beyond your control.
- The problem with this particular example is the use of "would," which has a built-in "preference" meaning.
- When you say, "I would watch A instead of B," it usually means you prefer it.
- Edit.
- I've been getting in trouble lately because people ask if there's any difference at all, and when I reply, they think I mean one choice can only be used a certain way.
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1 Answers
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My sense of it is that "rather" is more likely to indicate a preference than is "instead." "Instead" could mean you picked it by chance, or for some reason beyond your control.
The problem with this particular example is the use of "would," which has a built-in "preference" meaning. When you say, "I would watch A instead of B," it usually means you prefer it.
The problem with this particular example is the use of "would," which has a built-in "preference" meaning. When you say, "I would watch A instead of B," it usually means you prefer it.
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