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river1974
Joined: 20 May 2003 Posts: 525 Location: Taiwan
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Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2005 6:18 pm Post subject: rather than |
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Dear teachers:
Are there any substitutes for the phrase "rather than"?
Thanks. |
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Bob S.

Joined: 29 Apr 2004 Posts: 1767 Location: So. Cal
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Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2005 8:57 am Post subject: rather than |
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Most common:
"instead of"
Alternates:
"as opposed to"
"in lieu of" |
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river1974
Joined: 20 May 2003 Posts: 525 Location: Taiwan
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Posted: Sun May 01, 2005 6:08 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you Bob. Could I use "but not" to replace "rather than"? For example:
(a)He is a teacher rather than an engineer.
(b)He is a teacher but not an engineer.
Thanks. |
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Bob S.

Joined: 29 Apr 2004 Posts: 1767 Location: So. Cal
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Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 1:05 pm Post subject: |
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river1974 wrote: |
Thank you Bob. Could I use "but not" to replace "rather than"? For example:
(a)He is a teacher rather than an engineer.
(b)He is a teacher but not an engineer.
Thanks. |
It's okay, but it changes the meaning a bit.
"but not" could imply that you could have both options at the same time (though you don't). "rather than" implies that you can have one or the other but not both at the same time.
e.g.
Q: For ice cream toppings, we have chocolate syrup and peanuts. What would you like?
A1: I would like syrup AND peanuts.
A2: I would like syrup but not peanuts.
A3: Rather than toppings, can I have it plain? |
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