以下為個人綜合資料而得的理解，不足之處歡迎交流。首先得把A rather than B（A 而不是B; 與其A，不如說是B） 和would A rather than B (寧願做A而不願做B)分辨開，再來比較rather than 和 instead of
1.所接成分的區別：rather than: 它連接的並列成分可以是名詞、代詞、形容詞、介詞(短語)、動名詞、分句、不定式、動詞等。instead of：通常情況下，除了不能加動詞之外，其他成分（名詞、代詞、形容詞、介詞(短語)、動名詞、分句、不定式）都可以加。而且，通常情況下，可以互換。(1) 連接兩個名詞或代詞 He rather than you is going to go camping. 是你而不是我要去要野營。 He instead of you is going to go camping. 注意：rather than 連接兩個名詞或代詞作主語時，謂語動詞應與rather than 前面的名詞或代詞在人稱和數上保持一致。 (2) 連接兩個形容詞 Things are getting worse rather than better.Things are getting worse instead of better.(3) 連接兩個介詞(短語)或動名詞 We will have the meeting in the classroom rather than in the great hall. We will have the meeting in the classroom instead of in the great hall. (4) 連接不定式I went to borrow a book rather than to buy one.I went to borrow a book instead of to buy one.（5）rather than 後面可加動詞；此處只是表示兩個平行結構，所以用過去式。She ran rather than walked.
2.rather than 可以表示 “與其說，不如說”的意思，而instead of 沒有這個意思。He is an explorer rather than a sailor. 與其說他是一個海員，不如說他是一個Explorer。 The sweater she bought was cheap rather than beautiful. 與其說她買的這件羊毛衫便漂亮不如說它便宜。
以下為個人綜合資料而得的理解，不足之處歡迎交流。首先得把A rather than B（A 而不是B; 與其A，不如說是B） 和would A rather than B (寧願做A而不願做B)分辨開，再來比較rather than 和 instead of
1.所接成分的區別：rather than: 它連接的並列成分可以是名詞、代詞、形容詞、介詞(短語)、動名詞、分句、不定式、動詞等。instead of：通常情況下，除了不能加動詞之外，其他成分（名詞、代詞、形容詞、介詞(短語)、動名詞、分句、不定式）都可以加。而且，通常情況下，可以互換。(1) 連接兩個名詞或代詞 He rather than you is going to go camping. 是你而不是我要去要野營。 He instead of you is going to go camping. 注意：rather than 連接兩個名詞或代詞作主語時，謂語動詞應與rather than 前面的名詞或代詞在人稱和數上保持一致。 (2) 連接兩個形容詞 Things are getting worse rather than better.Things are getting worse instead of better.(3) 連接兩個介詞(短語)或動名詞 We will have the meeting in the classroom rather than in the great hall. We will have the meeting in the classroom instead of in the great hall. (4) 連接不定式I went to borrow a book rather than to buy one.I went to borrow a book instead of to buy one.（5）rather than 後面可加動詞；此處只是表示兩個平行結構，所以用過去式。She ran rather than walked.
2.rather than 可以表示 “與其說，不如說”的意思，而instead of 沒有這個意思。He is an explorer rather than a sailor. 與其說他是一個海員，不如說他是一個Explorer。 The sweater she bought was cheap rather than beautiful. 與其說她買的這件羊毛衫便漂亮不如說它便宜。