Just wanted to ask this because I feel like I haven't found any answers for this particular issue, but should there be a comma in a sentence that uses a "not... but rather", or more precisely, as here, a "not [as a]... but rather [as a]" construction? For example, in the sentence:
The man did not see it as an obstacle but rather as an opportunity for growth.
Just going off of the idea that you should only put a comma before a conjunction if it joins two independent clauses, I feel like no comma would be needed here, and yet I've seen so many people only use this construction with a comma. Which is correct and why?
The words "but rather" can be followed by a phrase (noun or adverbial, typically the complement of the main verb) or used to link sentences. "The man did not see it as an obstacle but rather as an opportunity for growth" is an example of the former. "This is not an obstacle, but rather it is an opportunity" is the latter. In the former case, a comma seems usual but with a simple sentence it can be omitted; in the latter you probably want a comma or even something more heavyweight like a semicolon.
The following are from the Corpus of Contemporary American English.
Comma, all followed by noun phrase or adverbial phrase:
It is not an income redistribution plan, but rather a program where people earn a benefit by the contributions they make into the system, as well as their employers. (Daily Kos, 2012)
I remember this every time I pass through an airport's metal detector -- to affirm that I am not merely a passive subject of security screening, but rather an intrepid traveler breaking the threshold of a new adventure. (Digital Nomad, National Geographic, 2012)
As a member of both the National and International Wildlife Federations, and a charter member of the Cousteau Society, I was stunned to see a coalition of the leading environmental organizations announce that the greatest threat to marine mammals was not the Japanese whaling fleet, but rather the Reagan Administration's planned deployment of Pershing II missiles in Europe. (The Spectator, 2009)
Nakoula has told the Associated Press he was not the director on the film, but rather a logistics manager. (NBC News, 2012)
Because it's not the words that matter to me, but rather the ideas and views they create. (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times, 2010)
You can also use a comma when linking two sentences (this is standard when linking two sentences with "but"):
The restriction need not be perfect, but rather it must be reasonable. (Elizabeth Lester-Abdalla, William and Mary Law Review, 2018 (2018/11/01))
There are some sentences with no punctuation, and this works well with shorter sentences where you contrast two simple phrases.
Becoming tired of the struggle and looking forward to time for other things is not a sign of giving up but rather a sign of searching for new meaning. (Daily Kos, 2011)
I believe the writers of the law had this in mind: it's not necessarily to keep "interlopers" out but rather to keep the uninformed out. (Chicago Tribune, 2011)
It's not meant to criticize you but rather strengthen the argument. (Middle of the Road blog, 2011)
There are also some with a semicolon, which makes more sense if it's followed by a complete sentence than a noun phrase or adverbial phrase, but I find it with either. If the sentence is complicated this may help guide the reader.
It's not a question of being "perfectly happy" with or without... none of us theists -- who include, as you are well aware, several modern physics Nobelists, living and dead -- is trying to picture the account (well, maybe some are); but rather, it's the knowledge that it is simply unacceptable to maintain that some collection of material parameters always "just existed". (Discover Magazine, 2012)
Remember them not for the loss or victory in their run for president; but rather, for their capture of the Republican party one precinct at a time. (The Spectator, 2009)
TLDR: It's your choice; treat it like any other conjunction.
