Difference Between Instead and Instead of

As a preposition instead is never used alone. It is always used with of.

• I will have coffee instead of tea. (NOT I will have coffee instead tea.)
• You will have to go with John instead of me.

When a verb comes after instead of, it has to be a gerund (-ing form), and not an infinitive.

• I stayed in bed all day instead of going to work. (NOT I stayed in bed all day instead of to go to work.)

Instead of does not mean the same as without. We use instead of when one person or thing replaces another. We use without when one person or thing is not together with another.

• John was supposed to attend the meeting, but he was ill, so Peter went instead of him. (Peter replaced John.)
• John and Peter were supposed to attend the meeting, but John was ill, So Peter went without him. (Only Peter attended the meeting.)

Instead without of is an adverb. It usually comes at the beginning or end of a clause.

• She didn’t marry Peter. She married John instead.

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