except for a sparse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "except for a sparse" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating an exception to a general statement, particularly in contexts discussing quantity or presence. Example: "The landscape was mostly barren, except for a sparse collection of trees dotting the horizon."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Baby Lake, close to a big nickel smelter at Sudbury, was almost devoid of eukaryotic life in 1972 except for a sparse population of Chlorella.

Evolutionary Applications

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Look for a sparse shrub or tree.

WikiHow

The stage is bare except for amps, kit and a sparse row of lights.

The Guardian - Music

The proposed tracker is mainly implemented with MATLAB code, except for the sparse solution which is derived with the LARS algorithm of SPAMS package [28].

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

The repeat-injection analysis indicates that connectivity patterns across animals are remarkably consistent, except for very sparse projections.

Cerebral Cortex

It was a good night for a test run; a sparse crowd showed up.

The New York Times

One of the most unforgettable objects is a scroll that is sparse in imagery except for a fat and happy black cat rendered in ink.

The New York Times

For three years, they kept up a sparse and not at all romantic communication.

The New York Times - Style

A sparse direct solver for the Navier Stokes is designed.

Applied Mathematical Modelling

Scenarios were identical to a except the R matrix did not have a sparse factor form.

Genetics

It is a sparse variant of 2DPCA-L1 for unsupervised learning.

Neural Networks

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "except for a sparse" to clearly indicate that the statement you're making is generally true, but there's a limited or infrequent exception to consider.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "except for a sparse" can sound somewhat informal. In formal writing, consider alternatives like "with the exception of a limited number" or "apart from a scant few" for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except for a sparse" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces an exception to a general statement. This construction sets up a condition where something is generally true, save for a limited occurrence, as Ludwig AI exemplifies.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

44%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "except for a sparse" serves as a prepositional phrase to introduce a limited exception to a general statement. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts, primarily in science and news media. While it's a valid phrase, more formal alternatives might be preferred in academic settings. The phrase indicates that while something is generally true, there's a small or infrequent exception. Consider related phrases like "aside from a scant" or "apart from a meager" for nuanced variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aside from a scant

Replaces "except" with "aside from" and "sparse" with "scant", emphasizing the minimal quantity.

apart from a meager

Substitutes "except" with "apart from" and "sparse" with "meager", highlighting the inadequacy of the amount.

save for a limited

Replaces "except" with "save for" and "sparse" with "limited", indicating a restricted number or quantity.

but for a scattering of

Replaces "except" with "but for" and "sparse" with "scattering of", focusing on the scattered distribution of the exception.

excluding a sprinkling of

Replaces "except" with "excluding" and "sparse" with "sprinkling of", suggesting a light or infrequent presence.

with the exception of a thin

Replaces "except" with "with the exception of" and "sparse" with "thin", emphasizing the lack of density.

besides a trace of

Replaces "except" with "besides" and "sparse" with "trace of", denoting a very small amount.

barring a handful of

Replaces "except" with "barring" and "sparse" with "handful of", specifying a small number of exceptions.

notwithstanding a smattering of

Replaces "except" with "notwithstanding" and "sparse" with "smattering of", indicating a few scattered instances.

excluding a modicum of

Replaces "except" with "excluding" and "sparse" with "modicum of", referring to a small quantity or degree.

FAQs

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

You can use "except for a sparse" to indicate that something is generally true, but there are very few exceptions. For example: "The garden was barren, "except for a sparse" collection of weeds."

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

Similar phrases include "aside from a scant", "apart from a meager", or "save for a limited", which all express a similar idea of a limited exception.

Is it grammatically correct to use "except for a sparse"?

Yes, "except for a sparse" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard structure of "except for" + adjective + noun.

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

"Except for a few" indicates a small number of exceptions, while ""except for a sparse"" emphasizes that the exceptions are not only few in number but also thinly distributed or lacking density. You can use "except for a few" when the small number is more important than the distribution, use "except for a sparse" when you want to also talk about distribution.