How do you punctuate but rather in a sentence?

"But rather" is a phrase that typically acts as a conjunction, connecting two contrasting ideas. Here are a few examples of how to punctuate it in a sentence:

1. Using a comma before "but rather":

* "I didn't want to go to the party, but rather stay home and read a book."

2. Using a semicolon before "but rather" for a more formal tone:

* "She had planned to go to the beach; but rather, she decided to stay home and work on her project."

3. Using a colon before "but rather" to introduce an explanation or clarification:

* "She had many choices for her vacation: but rather, she chose to visit her family in the mountains."

4. Using "but rather" as a separate sentence:

* "I didn't want to go to the party. But rather, I wanted to stay home and read a book."

Note: The punctuation choice depends on the context of the sentence and the desired style.