or rather
To be precise
Or rather introduces a correction or more precise restatement of what was just said: He's my friend—or rather, he was my friend.
The phrase signals that the speaker is refining their words, not contradicting them entirely.
It can soften a correction or add precision: She's talented, or rather, brilliant.
- actuallyIn truth, not supposedly
- insteadAs a replacement
- correctionFixing of mistakes
- clarificationMaking meaning plain
- specificallyIn a precise manner
well · truthfully · I mean · that is · reconsideration · on second thought · come to think of it · backtrack · rephrase · hesitation · pause · second thought · nuance · amendment · revision · reframe · qualify · refine
discourse function
or ratherindeed
Word affirming emphasis
exactly · precisely · in fact · yes · absolutely
precision direction
or ratheror something
Vague alternative indicator
or whatever · more or less · roughly speaking · approximately · broadly speaking