except for a rare

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "except for a rare" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is generally true with the exception of infrequent occurrences. Example: "The weather in this region is usually mild, except for a rare cold snap in winter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Except for a rare Humvee on a quick patrol of the dirt road next to the fence, there were no Israelis in sight.

The New York Times

Always impeccably dressed – he didn't own jeans or trainers – he took no exercise, except for a rare walk on the beach in his beloved Cornwall, where he had spent his childhood.

The Guardian - Arts

Gastric plexiform fibromyxomas are usually resected by partial gastrectomy or distal gastrectomy, except for a rare sessile polypoid case reported by Kang et al. [8, 9].

Surgical Case Reports

(Who knows what kept Rob Schneider from returning, except for a rare display of noble decorum).

Los Angeles Times

There is no equivalent human SNP in this position except for a rare null allele 332X, in which R332 is substituted with a stop codon in Baka pygmies at an allele frequency of 0.02.

AIDS

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The loneliness of the long-distance coder makes for some dry copy and except for a few rare exceptions – the The Cuckoo's Egg and Rebel Code being two – because the story of a programmer is far less interesting than the program itself.

TechCrunch

Except for a few rare occasions, for example, we use our own photos, press images, and creative commons photos.

TechCrunch

Because except for the rare exceptions, a promise is a promise, even ones given to repugnant, unsavory sources.

Huffington Post

And he has also made more money per week than anyone else — except, maybe, for a very rare case like Sinatra, where you can't be sure, because Sinatra will sell you a special through his own company and you don't know how much he's personally taking out of the deal".

The New Yorker

"Except for a very few rare cases, this is not very typical in ancient Maya architecture".

The Guardian

But there is no evidence showing that this is true, except for a handful of rare pediatric cancers, like brain and spinal cord cancer.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "except for a rare", ensure the context clearly defines what is considered 'rare' to avoid ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid overusing "except for a rare" when the exception is actually quite common. This diminishes the impact and accuracy of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except for a rare" functions as a prepositional phrase that serves to introduce an exception to a general statement. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "except for a rare" is a grammatically sound and usable prepositional phrase that serves to introduce infrequent exceptions to a general statement. According to Ludwig, the phrase is considered correct. While its frequency is relatively rare, it finds application in diverse contexts, particularly in news and media as well as scientific writing. When employing this phrase, clarity is paramount; ensure that the context elucidates what constitutes 'rare' to prevent ambiguity. Related phrases such as "aside from a rare" or "save for a rare" can offer stylistic alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aside from a rare

Replaces "except" with "aside from", slightly shifting the focus to what is being excluded.

apart from a rare

Similar to "aside from", but with a slightly different nuance in emphasis.

save for a rare

Uses "save for" instead of "except for", offering a more formal tone.

but for a rare

Substitutes "except" with "but", creating a slightly more direct contrast.

excluding a rare

Emphasizes the act of exclusion using "excluding" instead of "except for".

barring a rare

Offers a more concise and somewhat legalistic way to express the exception.

with the exception of a rare

Provides a more formal and explicit way of stating the exception.

occasional

Uses a single word to indicate something infrequent instead of the entire phrase, leading to a less precise meaning.

seldom if ever

This phrase expresses that something almost never happens and its emphasis is on negative rather than the "rare" event.

infrequently

Expresses the low frequency of an occurrence, but it does not create an explicit exception.

FAQs

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

Use "except for a rare" to indicate a general truth with infrequent exceptions. For example, "The museum is open daily, "except for a rare" holiday closure".

What phrases are similar to "except for a rare"?

Similar phrases include "aside from a rare", "save for a rare", or "with the exception of a rare", which all denote infrequent exceptions to a general rule.

Is it always necessary to specify what is "rare" when using this phrase?

While not always mandatory, specifying what constitutes "rare" provides clarity and avoids potential misunderstandings. This is particularly important in technical or formal writing.

When is it inappropriate to use the phrase "except for a rare"?

Avoid using "except for a rare" when the exception is not actually infrequent or when the exception significantly undermines the general statement's validity.