"Instead of" & "Rather than"

[750GO]

I am always puzzled by the usages of these two structures---"instead of " and "rather than"
As far as I know:
#1 only noun or noun phrases can be behind the "instead of" (since "of" is a preposition)
#2 In "A rather than B", A and B must be parallel. I.e I'd like to drive rather than to walk.

My question:
Am I right about the two rules listed above？ Or is there something that I omitted?

Please help me with this question. Thanks in advance!

[RonPurewal]

basically, yeah.

there's also a slight difference in meaning, which i described here:
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/foru ... 23452.html

as i mentioned on that thread, you won't HAVE to know the meaning difference, although it certainly couldn't hurt.
in other words, the meaning difference will certainly never be REQUIRED to solve a problem—but, if you understand the difference, and one of the two meanings makes sense while the other doesn't, then you can use the difference to help you narrow your options.

[750GO]

basically, yeah.

there's also a slight difference in meaning, which i described here:
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/foru ... 23452.html

as i mentioned on that thread, you won't HAVE to know the meaning difference, although it certainly couldn't hurt.
in other words, the meaning difference will certainly never be REQUIRED to solve a problem—but, if you understand the difference, and one of the two meanings makes sense while the other doesn't, then you can use the difference to help you narrow your options.

Thanks, Ron. You are always a great help.

[RonPurewal]

you're welcome.