except for a thin

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "except for a thin" is not complete and lacks context, making it difficult to assess its correctness in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate an exception related to something that is thin, but it needs to be part of a larger sentence for clarity. Example: "The room was filled with furniture, except for a thin space between the wall and the couch."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

The backlighting is unusually even across the screen, except for a thin strip along the bottom.

The Guardian - Tech

All the entrees, except for a thin, chewy, overcooked steak, were winners.

The New York Times

The ground surface is bare, except for a thin layer of humus and fallen leaves.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Except for a thin resurfacing coat laid down in the late 40's, the asphalt on 5th Ave.

The New Yorker

Cars there, he said, were undamaged except for a thin coating of gray dust created by the huge amount of pulverized concrete.

The New York Times

In addition, most tundra and polar barrens are underlain by soils that are permanently frozen (permafrost) except for a thin surface zone (active layer) that thaws each summer.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

In the limit λ2 → ∞, the maximum value of A0 → 1+ μ A/ δ A, and is attained throughout most of the tissue (except for within a thin boundary layer, of width O (λ 2 − 1 2 ) ) close to x = 1, where the concentration of a falls to unity).

Biology Direct

I was dope sick and the street I copped heroin on was naked except for a grotesquely thin kid in his early 20s.

Huffington Post

Adams Street, the place I scored heroin, was naked except for a grotesquely thin Puerto Rican kid in his early 20s.

Huffington Post

Aim for a thin and lumpy mix.

WikiHow

Except in a thin layer just below the surface of the brain, hyperpallial LFP oscillations consist of negatively peaked signals.

BMC Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "except for a thin", ensure that the "thin" aspect is relevant and adds meaningful detail to the exception. For example, specify "except for a thin layer of dust" instead of just "except for dust".

Common error

Avoid using "except for a thin" when a more general exception applies. For example, instead of saying "The report was perfect, except for a thin error", use "The report was perfect, except for one error" if the thickness or size of the error is not relevant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except for a thin" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces an exception or qualification to a statement. Ludwig's examples show its use in specifying minimal deviations or small quantities.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Wiki

17%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "except for a thin" serves as a prepositional phrase to introduce a minor exception to a general statement. It is used to specify a slight deviation or small quantity, as seen in examples from news, science, and encyclopedias. Ludwig AI's assessment indicates the phrase is grammatically correct, although it benefits from additional context. Consider alternatives like "aside from a narrow" or "apart from a slender" for subtle variations in meaning. When using this phrase, ensure the "thin" aspect is relevant and adds meaningful detail to the exception, and avoid using it when a more general exception is appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

apart from a slender

Replaces "except for" with "apart from" and "thin" with "slender", suggesting a slightly more elegant or refined exception.

aside from a narrow

Uses "aside from" instead of "except for" and "narrow" instead of "thin", implying a limited deviation.

save for a slim

Substitutes "except for" with "save for" and "thin" with "slim", offering a more concise and slightly formal alternative.

but for a fine

Replaces "except for" with "but for" and "thin" with "fine", suggesting a subtle or delicate exception.

excluding a lean

Uses "excluding" to replace "except for" and "lean" instead of "thin", indicating that something is left out of consideration.

with the exclusion of a slight

Offers a more formal and explicit expression using "with the exclusion of" and "slight" to mean nearly the same as QUERY.

not counting a meager

Uses "not counting" instead of "except for" and "meager" to specify a small exception.

barring a minimal

Replaces "except for" with "barring" and "thin" with "minimal", suggesting that something is prohibited unless there is minimal exception.

other than a trim

Replaces "except for" with "other than" and "thin" with "trim", this phrase works well when talking about physical objects.

outside of a marginal

Replaces "except for" with "outside of" and "thin" with "marginal", suggesting a not very important exception.

FAQs

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

Use "except for a thin" to specify an exception involving something slender or fine, such as "The surface was clean, except for a thin layer of dust."

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

Similar phrases include "aside from a narrow", "apart from a slender", or "save for a slim", each emphasizing a slight deviation.

When is it better to use "except for a slight" instead of "except for a thin"?

Use "except for a slight" when the exception is not necessarily about physical thinness but rather a small degree or amount.

What's the difference between "except for a thin" and "except for a small"?

"Except for a thin" refers to the physical dimension of being slender, while "except for a small" refers to size or quantity. Choose the phrase that best describes the nature of the exception.