Instead vs Instead of

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Instead

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 adverb

Instead of

Top 2,000 (common)

Most common: Instead

	Instead	Instead of
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈsted/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈsted/"]/	🇬🇧 //ɪnˈstɛd əv// 🇺🇸 //ɪnˈstɛd ʌv//
Meaning	used to say that something is done in place of something else	in place of something else
Example	Lee was ill so I went instead.	I decided to walk instead of driving.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	A2	-
Part of speech	adverb
Collocations	instead of, do instead, choose instead, use instead, say instead	instead of doing, instead of going, instead of that
Antonyms	instead of, rather than	in addition to, as well as, along with
Common mistakes	Using 'instead' at the beginning of a sentence without context., 'Instead of' followed incorrectly by a verb in its base form., Confusing 'instead' with 'besides'.	Using 'instead of' incorrectly with adjectives, Confusing 'instead' and 'instead of', Omitting 'of' after 'instead'
Usage notes	Use 'instead' to show a choice between two options. It is suitable in both spoken and written English, but may sound too formal in casual conversations if overused.	Use 'instead of' to show preference for one option over another. Avoid in very formal writing.

See it in real clips

Instead,

Agatha Christies Poirot › S1 E1

Instead he lies in wait for Davis when he comes out to lunch

House Of Dragons › S1 E1

The lords instead chose viserys,

Instead,

Agatha Christies Poirot › S1 E1

Instead he lies in wait for Davis when he comes out to lunch

Instead

Peaky Blinders › S1 E1

Must have taken it from the proofing bay, instead of the export bay.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms › S1 E1

staring up at silk instead of sky.

House Of Dragons › S1 E1

In the vale, men are said to fuck sheep instead of women.

Peaky Blinders › S1 E1

Must have taken it from the proofing bay, instead of the export bay.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms › S1 E1

staring up at silk instead of sky.

Instead of

Frequently asked questions: Instead vs Instead of

What's the difference between Instead and Instead of?

Instead: used to say that something is done in place of something else Instead of: in place of something else

Which is more common: Instead and Instead of?

Instead is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Instead: Lee was ill so I went instead. Instead of: I decided to walk instead of driving.

Can I use Instead and Instead of interchangeably?

Not always. Instead and Instead of are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.