except for a few

USAGE SUMMARY

"except for a few" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate exceptions to a general rule or statement: "Most of the students have taken the test, except for a few who are ill."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Hotwire provides e-tickets, except for a few flights.

The New York Times - Travel

Nobody notices the librettist except for a few people".

The Guardian - Music

And that's exactly what happened, except for a few things.

The New Yorker

Everything, except for a few of the short stories.

The New York Times - Books

Except for a few earthbound choreographers, nearly everyone cooperates.

The New York Times - Arts

The building itself is empty except for a few trees.

The Economist

Except for a few regulars, their faces were different.

The New York Times - Sports

Except for a few short stretches, the trail avoided roads.

The New York Times - Travel

Over decades, science in both fields has developed independently – except for a few tentative attempts.

International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer

Except for a few outliers, everyone also appeared content with the rate of lectures.

University of California, Berkeley

No fossil record except for a few statoblasts from Quaternary sediments.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "except for a few", ensure the exceptions are truly minor or limited in scope. If the exceptions are significant, consider revising your main statement for greater accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "except for a few" if the exceptions are so numerous or significant that they undermine the general statement. In such cases, it's better to rephrase the main statement to be more inclusive or nuanced.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except for a few" functions as a prepositional phrase used to introduce an exception to a general statement. It qualifies the statement, indicating that the statement is true in most cases, but not in all, as supported by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

18%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "except for a few" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to introduce exceptions to a general statement. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and widely used across different contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media, Academia, and Science, it maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse writing purposes. When employing this phrase, ensure the exceptions are minor to maintain the validity of the primary assertion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with a few exceptions

Directly states the presence of exceptions to a rule.

minus a few

Simple subtraction to point out exceptions.

aside from some

Focuses on what remains after excluding certain items.

excluding a handful

Emphasizes the small quantity of excluded items.

excepting certain cases

Specifies particular situations are the exceptions.

save for some instances

Highlights specific occurrences as the exceptions.

apart from several

Notes a few exceptions from a larger set.

but a small number

Emphasizes the limited quantity of the exception.

excluding a minority

Highlights the smaller number that are not included.

barring a couple

Indicates only a pair is excluded.

FAQs

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

Use "except for a few" to introduce exceptions to a general statement. For example, "All the students passed the exam, "except for a few" who were absent."

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

You can use alternatives like "with a few exceptions", "aside from some", or "excluding a handful" depending on the context.

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

While "except a few" might be understood, ""except for a few"" is the more grammatically correct and widely accepted phrasing.

What is the difference between "except for a few" and "except for many"?

"Except for a few" indicates that only a small number are excluded, while "except for many" suggests a significant portion are excluded from the general statement. They convey opposite meanings regarding the extent of the exception.