Basic Details
Word: Instead
Part of Speech: Adverb
Meaning: In place of someone or something else.
Synonyms: alternatively, rather
How to Spell Instead
Syllables: in - stead
Tricky part: The ea is said like the e in bed, so students write insted. Keep stead whole: s-t-e-a-d.
Watch out for: insted, instaed, insteed
Memory tip: Picture a slice of bread instead of a roti. Bread and instead share the same ea, said like a short e.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The shop had no mangoes, so I bought guavas instead.
Example 2: We could walk to school instead of taking the auto.
Example 3: He wanted to watch TV, but he read a comic instead.
Fun Fact
Stead is an old English word for place. It survives in instead, in steadfast and in the phrase to stand someone in good stead.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
Since the main road was flooded after the cloudburst, the school bus took the narrow hill road insted, and we reached the gate an hour late.
a) flooded
b) cloudburst
c) narrow
d) insted
Show answer
d) insted. Instead is in + stead, and stead keeps its ea.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
Our coach was ill, so the PT teacher ran the evening practice detsnai.
a) instead
b) instant
c) detains
d) stained
Show answer
a) instead. Stained and detains use the very same letters, but only instead makes sense at the end of this sentence.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. occasionaly 2. instead 3. altarnative 4. preferance
a) a greater liking for one thing than another
b) another possible choice
c) in place of someone or something else
d) now and then, but not often
Show answer
c) in place of someone or something else. Instead is right; alternative has er after the t, preference ends in ence and occasionally has two l's.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which word must follow instead when a noun comes next?
a) of
b) from
c) with
d) to
Show answer
a) of
2. I'll walk instead of taking the bus. So I will ____.
a) take the bus later
b) take the bus and then walk
c) walk and not take the bus
d) do neither
Show answer
c) walk and not take the bus
