When the word rather is acting as a conjunctive adverb joining two independent clauses, its purpose is to emphasize a correction that has just been made and to introduce a description of the true situation.
A conjunctive adverb joining independent clauses must be preceded by a semicolon, an em dash (long dash) or a period:
- Windsor is not a quiet place; rather, it’s a bustling centre.
- Windsor is not a quiet place—rather, it’s a bustling centre.
- Windsor is not a quiet place. Rather, it’s a bustling centre.
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