except for a couple

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "except for a couple" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that all items or individuals in a group are included, with the exception of a few specific ones. Example: "Everyone attended the meeting except for a couple of team members who were out of town."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Usage

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"Except for a couple of hours, it's never been there".

The New York Times

Except for a couple of positions, the Mets have a fast team over all.

The New York Times - Sports

And that's the song, except for a couple of other Boatmen touches.

The New Yorker

"Except for a couple of bad punts, we did O.K.," Coach Jim Fassel said.

The New York Times - Sports

But except for a couple of hilarious riffs, its jokes are not laugh-out-loud funny.

The New York Times

The home was empty inside, except for a couple of chairs.

The New York Times

Except for a couple of slightly over-extended sequences, the film grips from first to last.

The Guardian - Film

Except for a couple of lurching plot devices, there's nothing very conventional about "L.I.E".

The New York Times

Mr. McCain has not shown up except for a couple of the nationally televised debates.

The New York Times

Everybody seemingly has a chance except for a couple of teams".

The New York Times - Sports

Except for a couple of starts where he's hit the wall a little bit".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using this phrase, ensure that the reader understands which specific items or individuals are being excluded. Clarity is key to avoiding confusion.

Common error

Avoid using "except for a couple" without specifying what the exceptions are, as this can lead to confusion and weaken the impact of your statement. Always ensure the exceptions are clear from the context or explicitly stated.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except for a couple" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing an exception to a general statement. It is used to specify that nearly all members of a group or instances of something are included, with only a small number (specifically two) being excluded. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Sports

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "except for a couple" is a grammatically correct and widely used way to indicate a minor exception to a general statement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's common across various contexts, particularly in news, sports, and general conversation. It's crucial to ensure clarity when specifying the exceptions to avoid vagueness. Alternatives such as "apart from a few" or "aside from a couple" offer similar meanings with subtle differences in emphasis. Remember to use this phrase judiciously to add precision to your writing while maintaining clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

apart from a few

Emphasizes a separation or distinction from a small number of items.

aside from a couple

Similar to "apart from", suggesting a small number is being set aside.

with the exception of a couple

More formal way to express the exclusion of a small number.

other than a couple

A straightforward way of indicating an alternative to the general statement.

save for a couple

Indicates that something is being saved or exempted from the general case.

excluding a couple

Directly states that a small number is not included.

but for a couple

Highlights the impact of the excluded items if they were included.

barring a couple

Implies that the mentioned items are barring or preventing a general statement from being completely true.

besides a couple

Suggests that in addition to the general statement, a couple of things are also true, but not the main focus.

leaving out a couple

Indicates a deliberate omission of a small number from consideration.

FAQs

How can I use "except for a couple" in a sentence?

Use "except for a couple" to indicate that nearly all members of a group or instances of something are included or true, with only a small number being the exception. For example, "All the students passed the exam "except for a couple" who didn't study".

What are some alternatives to "except for a couple"?

Alternatives include "apart from a few", "aside from a couple", or "with the exception of a couple". The best choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it better to use "except for a few" or "except for a couple"?

"Except for a few" is generally used when the number of exceptions is indefinite but small. "Except for a couple" specifies that there are exactly two exceptions. The choice depends on the accuracy and specificity you need in your statement.

What's the difference between "except for a couple" and "except for a few"?

The main difference lies in the precision. "Except for a couple" indicates precisely two exceptions, while "except for a few" suggests a small, unspecified number greater than one.