instead of
 

what is difference between ,in place of ,instead of,rather than

Re: instead of
 

Instead of and rather than are the same - they express alternative choices of people, things and actions:

We decided to go to the mountains for our holidays, instead of going to the sea as we usually do.
We decided to go to the mountains for our holidays, rather than going to the sea as we usually do.

in place of is used with people and things (not actions) to emphasise that the alternative is a substitution :

Jane went to the meeting instead of/ rather than/ in place of Anne as Anne was on holiday.

The possessive can also be used :
Anne is on holiday so Jane went to the meeting in her place.
They've pulled the old factory down and built a new factory in its place.
What would you do in my place? (= if you were in my situation)

place can be used in other expressions with the same meaning of substitution :
to take someone's/something's place : Jane took Anne's place at the meeting. / A new hospital has taken the place of the old factory.