barring a few exceptions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barring a few exceptions" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something is generally true except for a small number of specific cases. Example: "The policy applies to all employees, barring a few exceptions for those with special circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Barring a few exceptions where Trijata is cast as Ravana's agent, she is generally portrayed as a friend and loyal companion of Sita in her adversity.

Wikipedia

ERBIL, Iraqi Kurdistan — Barring a few exceptions, the outlook for LGBT individuals in the Middle East can be bleak, or even outright deadly.

Huffington Post

Before that, depictions of bloody periods didn't usually make it to TV, barring a few exceptions from "Degrassi," "Mad Men," and "Broad City".

Huffington Post

The N50 in our assembly was found to be 1,353 bases, which was higher than most other plant transcriptome assemblies published, barring a few exceptions (Table 2).

BMC Genomics

Barring a few exceptions, sRNAs are typically 50 to 500 nucleotides in length and do not code for proteins [ 4– 6].

BMC Genomics

However, in both T. gondii and P. falciparum, (barring a few exceptions) co-expressed genes are not clustered within a region on a chromosome indicating that additional non-structural control mechanisms are involved in their regulation.

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Bar a few exceptions to the general rule, the main focus of sports injury aetiological research to date has been on risk factor identification at the individual component cause level.

Injury Epidemiology

The day was topped off by an impressive gala dinner complete with palm wine, fireworks and lots of excellent dancing (barring a few notable exceptions).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Barring a few aberrant exceptions (like the intranetworked Fujitsu) even the information industries shun computers.

Forbes

Barring a few notable exceptions with limited offline capabilities like Evernote and Google Translate, many apps simply fail when the data stops flowing.

TechCrunch

Barring a few possible exceptions such as onomatopoeia, the association between a word and its referent is not grounded in the intrinsic nature of either the word or the referent.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barring a few exceptions" to clearly indicate that a general statement holds true, but some specific instances do not follow the rule. It's most effective when the exceptions are either self-evident or further clarified.

Common error

Avoid using "barring a few exceptions" when the exceptions significantly undermine the general statement. If there are more exceptions than typical cases, consider rephrasing to focus on the exceptions or acknowledge a more nuanced situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barring a few exceptions" functions as a qualifier or a hedge. It indicates that a statement is generally true but acknowledges that there are specific instances where it does not apply. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Reference

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "barring a few exceptions" is a useful phrase for indicating that a general statement is mostly true but not without some exceptions. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and usable. It functions as a qualifier and serves to avoid overgeneralizations. It appears in a range of formal and neutral registers, particularly in news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts. Related phrases include "with few exceptions" and "except for a few exceptions". When using the phrase, ensure that the exceptions don't negate the overall statement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with few exceptions

Direct synonym, changes the introductory verb.

except for a few exceptions

Adds emphasis by explicitly stating the exceptions.

save for a few exceptions

Replaces "barring" with "save", maintaining a formal tone.

apart from a few exceptions

Uses "apart from" instead of "barring", slightly less formal.

excluding a few exceptions

Emphasizes the exclusion of the exceptions.

aside from a few exceptions

Similar to "apart from", offering a slightly more casual alternative.

but with some exceptions

Uses a conjunction to introduce the exceptions, changing the sentence structure.

a few exceptions notwithstanding

More formal and less common phrasing.

subject to a few exceptions

Implies the exceptions are predetermined conditions.

in most cases

Simplifies the statement to focus on the general rule.

FAQs

How can I use "barring a few exceptions" in a sentence?

You can use "barring a few exceptions" to introduce a statement that is generally true, but has specific instances where it does not apply. For example, "The library is open every day, barring a few exceptions for public holidays."

What's a more formal alternative to "barring a few exceptions"?

A more formal alternative is "with few exceptions" or "save for a few exceptions". These options maintain a formal tone while conveying the same meaning.

Is it correct to say "except for a few exceptions" instead of "barring a few exceptions"?

Yes, "except for a few exceptions" is a correct and commonly used alternative. It adds slight emphasis by explicitly stating the presence of exceptions.

What is the difference between "with a few exceptions" and "barring a few exceptions"?

The phrases "with a few exceptions" and "barring a few exceptions" are largely interchangeable. "Barring" might suggest a slightly more proactive exclusion of the exceptions, while "with" is a more neutral acknowledgement.