except for a few deviations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "except for a few deviations" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that there are minor differences or variations from a standard or expected norm. Example: "The project was completed on time, except for a few deviations in the original plan that needed to be addressed."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The results of the sequence comparisons are compiled in table 5. Except for a few deviations in the regions of the general primers, i.e. outside the coding regions, we rarely detected sequence deviations in the sequences of all 3 isolates.

Plosone

Except for a few deviations in small samples, it has increased steadily – with concomitant decreases in northern arrangement XL-1 – in all the localities studied except Olivette (where it is already about 95%) and Iowa.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

On policy, he'd hew mostly to conservative orthodoxy, with a few deviations -- most notably, his support for legalization for illegal immigrants.

The Washington Post

"It looks straight as an arrow, perfect pavement, absolutely west-east with a few deviations through villages for time checks.

The New York Times - Sports

Except for a few elements (such as G yx at KAK), the standard deviations have clearly smaller amplitudes than the estimates themselves.

Earth, Planets and Space

In most of the MDCs the difference was less than 1%, except for a few cases.

Health Care Management Science

Everything, except for a few of the short stories.

The New York Times - Books

The building itself is empty except for a few trees.

The Economist

Except for a few earthbound choreographers, nearly everyone cooperates.

The New York Times - Arts

However, these have not been studied in developing countries, except for a few studies in China and Iran.

Journal of Transport Geography

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

International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "except for a few deviations" to acknowledge minor variations without undermining the overall accuracy or consistency of a statement.

Common error

Avoid using "except for a few deviations" when the deviations are substantial or compromise the main point. In such cases, a more direct acknowledgement of the issues is necessary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except for a few deviations" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a clause or sentence by introducing an exception to a general statement. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and indicates minor differences.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "except for a few deviations" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to acknowledge minor variations or exceptions to a general statement. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While relatively rare in overall usage, it appears in both scientific and news contexts. Alternatives like "with a few exceptions" and "aside from some variations" offer similar meanings. When using this phrase, ensure the deviations are indeed minor and don't undermine the main point. Overstating the significance of these deviations is a common error to avoid.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with a few exceptions

This alternative replaces 'deviations' with 'exceptions', focusing on the idea of something being excluded.

apart from minor differences

This alternative employs 'apart from' and 'differences', emphasizing slight variations.

aside from some variations

This option uses 'aside from' instead of 'except for', and 'variations' instead of 'deviations', emphasizing differences.

excluding some discrepancies

This choice replaces 'except for' with 'excluding' and 'deviations' with 'discrepancies', focusing on inconsistencies.

but for a handful of divergences

Uses 'but for' and 'divergences' to signify deviations from a norm or standard.

barring a couple of irregularities

This phrase substitutes 'except for' with 'barring', and 'deviations' with 'irregularities', implying unexpected changes.

save for several alterations

This version uses 'save for' and 'alterations', highlighting changes made to something.

besides occasional departures

Substitutes 'except for' with 'besides' and 'deviations' with 'departures', suggesting instances of straying from a norm.

with the omission of some variations

This option uses a more formal tone than the original phrase. It emphasizes the act of leaving out variations.

notwithstanding limited alterations

This alternative uses a formal construction with 'notwithstanding', emphasizing that the alterations don't negate the general truth.

FAQs

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

You can use "except for a few deviations" to indicate that something is generally true or accurate, but there are some minor differences or exceptions. For example: "The data is consistent, "except for a few deviations" in the southern region."

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

Alternatives include phrases like "with a few exceptions", "aside from some variations", or "barring a couple of irregularities", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "except for a few deviations" or "with a few exceptions"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to express. "Except for a few deviations" might be more appropriate when referring to data or measurements, while "with a few exceptions" is more general.

When should I avoid using "except for a few deviations"?

Avoid using ""except for a few deviations"" if the deviations are significant or undermine the overall claim. In such cases, it's better to be more specific about the nature and extent of the differences.