Grammar Question ("rather")

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Because I have to edit something at work:

Is it proper to use "rather" as a synonym for "instead" at the beginning of a sentence? I.e., "X used to do Y, and now does not. Rather, it does Z." It's clear obv., but seems a little off at the moment, and I'd like it to be 100% correct.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 20:06 (twenty-one years ago)

And if you want something 100%, you have to come to ILX, obv.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 20:07 (twenty-one years ago)

I would have thought it carries a different connotation: instead simply substitutes an action, but rather might imply a choice, a preference. Is that useful and appropriate here?

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 20:16 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't see why it wouldn't be correct. Grammatically speaking, it is. I don't know what usage experts have to say, though. (xpost with Martin)

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 20:16 (twenty-one years ago)

My Webster's makes no distinction:

"rather: def. 4: to the contrary: INSTEAD -- Mk 5:26"

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 20:18 (twenty-one years ago)

I think that's what was bothering me, Martin, since it really is a binary situation, no choice involved.

(x-post. Thanks...since I'm editing someone else's writing, I'll probably resist from nitpicking and leave it alone.)

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 20:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Ah, sometimes I can forget the way angle brackets work here.

That post was supposed to give an example: "was no better but rather grew worse" (Mk 5:26).

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 20:22 (twenty-one years ago)

I wouldn't use Rather or Instead at the start of a sentence, instead just write "X used to do Y. Now X does Z" (the slut). But I don't know why.

― isadora (isadora), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 20:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Doesn't sound right to me either.

― Michael White (Hereward), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 20:24 (twenty-one years ago)

It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us...

From the Gettysburg Address

― Michael White (Hereward), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 20:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Fuck Lincoln.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 20:36 (twenty-one years ago)

That's some pretty grim necrophilia you're talking about there, jaymc.

― Michael White (Hereward), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 20:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Or is it autophilia?

― na (Nick A.), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 20:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Fucking yourself? Oh, I see. "Nice tailpipe ya got there beautiful"

― Michael White (Hereward), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 20:43 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...

what is the name of the type of phrase that begins with "regarding..." or "pertaining to..."?

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Sunday, 8 January 2006 20:23 (twenty years ago)

The 1926 edition of Fowler (notorious for jocular hyperbole) describes the practice (which he calls "Inversion") as "one of the most repellent vices of modern writing". He then goes on to list a whole zoo of these vices.

However, in the specific case of "rather" (and "yet" and "especially") he says it is "not a matter for argument, but for taste".

There's an example in the revised 3rd edition of Fowler:

"His book is not a biography in the ordinary sense; rather is is a series of recollections culled from..."

The author of the revised 3rd edition advises reordering so that it reads "it is rather". "It does rather Z" is clearly wrong though. Dunno.

Can't you just say "X used to do Y, but now it does Z" and avoid the problem entirely?

― Mike W (caek), Sunday, 8 January 2006 22:13 (twenty years ago)

And I hope your deadline allows you to submit the article 18 months after you asked the question. Meh.

gabbneb: compound prepositions?

― Mike W (caek), Sunday, 8 January 2006 22:16 (twenty years ago)

I think the phrase is an adjectival phrase if it modifies a noun, e.g., I feel many reservations regarding your candidacy.

But if one accepts the following sentence as grammatical, it seems that it can also function as an adverbial phrase: I spoke regarding your candidacy.

I think phrases are sometimes named based upon their grammatical function, e.g., adjectival or adverbial, and sometimes based upon the grammatical form of the head, e.g., adjective. (verb+ing=present participle (in this case)=adjective) In the first sentence, I think function and form are consistent, but in the second, I think they're not.

Safe bet: adjectival phrase

― youn, Monday, 9 January 2006 02:16 (twenty years ago)

"With regard to", which, in this context, is a synonym of "regarding", is a compound preposition. (So are "as to", "for the purpose of", "in order to", etc.). This is according to (!) Fowler's MEU, which is the best book ever.

Whatever it is, it is strictly correct, but overuse is a bad thing.

― Mike W (caek), Monday, 9 January 2006 17:25 (twenty years ago)

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