except for a few regulars

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "except for a few regulars" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is true or applicable in general, with the exception of a small number of specific cases or individuals. Example: "The café was mostly empty, except for a few regulars who were enjoying their usual drinks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Except for a few regulars, their faces were different.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

A few numerical examples are shown to assess the applicaBoththeof the method, its computational effort and some convergence issues.

Engineering Structures

Along with the new co-anchors for the newscast, CBS identified a few regular contributors.

The New York Times

This example is very similar to the example on training a regular LDA model, except for a few small changes.

Stanford University

Except for a few differences the prayer, the scripture reading and the Jesus-focused affirmations from Williams the instruction is regular old fast-flowing, muscle-stretching, bum-tightening yoga.

Vice

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

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

The New York Times - Travel

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

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "except for a few regulars", ensure the context clearly defines who the "regulars" are to avoid ambiguity. This enhances clarity and prevents misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "except for a few regulars" if the identity of the "regulars" is unclear to your audience. Always provide context or clarification to ensure the exception is well-understood.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except for a few regulars" functions as an exception phrase. It modifies a preceding statement by indicating a specific group of individuals to which the statement does not fully apply. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

33%

Science

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "except for a few regulars" serves as an exception phrase, qualifying a statement by excluding a specific group. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It exhibits a neutral register and appears in various contexts, primarily in News & Media, Academia, and Science. While the phrase is not overly common, it provides a concise and effective way to indicate exceptions within a general scenario. Alternative phrases include "apart from a handful of regulars" or "with the exception of a few regular patrons", allowing for nuanced expression while maintaining clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with the exception of some regulars

Replaces the opening phrase with a more formal and explicit construction.

apart from a handful of regulars

Replaces "a few" with "a handful", emphasizing a small quantity, and uses "apart from" instead of "except for".

excluding a few usual customers

Employs "excluding" instead of "except for" and "usual customers" in place of "regulars", altering the tone slightly.

besides some frequent patrons

Substitutes "except for" with "besides" and "regulars" with "frequent patrons", offering a slightly more formal tone.

other than a few steady clients

Replaces "except for" with "other than" and "regulars" with "steady clients", providing a business-oriented nuance.

save for a small number of regulars

Uses "save for" in place of "except for", creating a more literary or archaic feel.

aside from several habitual attendees

Substitutes "except for" with "aside from" and replaces "regulars" with "habitual attendees", increasing formality.

but for a few common faces

Uses "but for" instead of "except for" and "common faces" instead of "regulars", making the phrase more conversational.

barring a couple of familiar faces

Employs "barring" in place of "except for" and "familiar faces" instead of "regulars", adding a touch of informality.

leaving out a few typical members

Replaces "except for" with "leaving out" and substitutes "regulars" with "typical members", making the phrase more explicit.

FAQs

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

You can use "except for a few regulars" to indicate that a general statement is true, with the exception of a small group of people who are consistently present or involved. For example, "The cafe was empty, "except for a few regulars" reading newspapers".

What's a more formal alternative to "except for a few regulars"?

A more formal alternative could be "with the exception of a few regular patrons" or "excluding a small number of frequent attendees". These phrases provide a similar meaning in a more elevated tone.

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

No, the correct phrasing is "except for a few regulars". The inclusion of "for" is necessary for grammatical accuracy.

What can I say instead of "except for a few regulars" to emphasize the small number of people?

You can use phrases like "apart from a handful of regulars" or "save for a small number of regulars" to emphasize that the exception involves only a very small group.