1

What's the meaning of "instead with"?

I found it in this sentence:

I had thought instead with M. Reimer that the printing of the map (the corrections of which are at the moment on lithography stones) should be deferred for a short term.

Source: Understanding Life in the Borderlands: Boundaries in Depth and in Motion, edited by I. William Zartman.

Improve this question
4
  • There's no meaning of "instead with"; it's not a two-word preposition like "instead of". They're two words that just happen to be next to each other. You could equally well say: "I had instead thought with M. Reimer …"
    – Peter Shor
    Commented May 21, 2014 at 10:01
  • @PeterShor, I'll re edit according to your recommendtion
    – Lucian Sava
    Commented May 21, 2014 at 10:06
  • It might be easier to read if we shift the word instead to the front: Instead, I had thought with M. Reimer that ...
    – Damkerng T.
    Commented May 21, 2014 at 13:36
  • "I think with him that this construction is ungainly, if not actually ungrammatical". It would be much better to spell out the relationship more precisely - "In line with him, I think this phrasing sounds better".
    – FumbleFingers
    Commented May 21, 2014 at 14:48

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
2

I had thought instead with M. Reimer that the printing of the map (the corrections of which are at the moment on lithography stones) should be deferred for a short term.

I would rephrase it like so:

I had instead thought with M. Reimer that the printing of the map (the corrections of which are at the moment on lithography stones) should be deferred for a short term.

And replace instead with its dictionary definition: ”as an alternative”

The sentence would read:

I had as an alternative thought with M. Reimer that the printing of the map (the corrections of which are at the moment on lithography stones) should be deferred for a short term.

Edit:

The word with here conveys the meaning that I had instead thought together with M. Reimer, that is sharing M. Reimer’s opinion.

Improve this answer
0
-2

It means rather than that, do it with...

For example:

Guest Posting for Backlinks is Dead, Do This Instead with Social Media

This means don't guest post for backlinks, instead prefer social media as a powerful tool. I thought of many examples and could fit instead of instead of instead with. It still conveyed the message. I guess with in place of of is used to keep the syntax intact.

For instance, if garlic butter is the substitute of potato in some dish to be eaten with, you may say - You can also ask to get garlic butter instead with the potato. Nice question. +1

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .