except for the time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "except for the time" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that everything is true or applies to a situation, except for one specific thing or instance. It can also be used to emphasize a specific exception or exclusion. Example: "I had a great time at the party, except for the time when the music suddenly stopped and everyone had to wait for the DJ to fix the speakers." In this sentence, the speaker is expressing that they overall had a good experience at the party, but there was one specific moment that was not enjoyable.

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

DR. NELTE: And from that time, except for the time you were in Vienna, you always worked with him?

Yale University

He said he had no regrets about speaking out except for the time it took from his life.

The New York Times

"I have no social life except for the time I spend on the air with these people".

The New York Times

These chores were necessary, but I can't say that I enjoyed them (except for the time we watched Sylvia, the Sylvia Plath biopic, during a chemo session).

Columbia University

Seedlings (n = 45) were kept inside their individual Y-maze at constant temperature and in darkness throughout the experiment, except for the time of blue light exposure.

Nature

Except for the time he spent in Europe in 1910, Dawson painted all of his important pictures, presumably on weekends, while working full time as a designer.

The New York Times - Arts

"Except for the time when we're on our laptops, we're mostly out of the house," said Mr. Stubblebine, who runs a social networking software company.

The New York Times

Except for the time Carrie Googled her Russian, verbs like texting, blogging and Googling — activities at the heart of many love lives these days —never crossed their lips.

The New York Times

Perhaps not surprisingly, she says he was a good son, except for the time when he was 16 and was caught driving a stolen car.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Moreover, there are no reported techniques for producing people (except for the time-honored one) and even if there were, European research rules ban human cloning.

The New York Times

The pumping rates were recorded 5 min later, except for the time-dependence curve (Fig. 1B).

Biophysics Reports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "except for the time" to clearly specify a single exception when describing a general condition or situation. This helps avoid ambiguity and makes your writing more precise.

Common error

Avoid using overly broad statements without specifying clear exceptions. For example, instead of saying "Everything went smoothly", clarify with "Everything went smoothly, "except for the time" when the presentation software crashed."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except for the time" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically used as an adverbial modifier. According to Ludwig AI, it indicates that a statement is true in all instances excluding the specified time. It serves to introduce an exception to a general condition.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

38%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "except for the time" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to introduce an exception to a general statement, as stated by Ludwig AI. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various writing styles. Its usage, as evidenced by numerous examples, underscores its effectiveness in specifying exclusions. While numerous related phrases offer similar meanings, understanding the specific nuance of each can enhance precision in writing. Remember to use "except for the time" to pinpoint specific exceptions and avoid overgeneralizations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

save for the time

Replaces "except" with "save", maintaining a formal tone and similar meaning.

barring the time

Uses "barring" instead of "except", implying a more forceful exclusion of the specified time.

aside from the time

Substitutes "except" with "aside from", offering a slightly more informal tone.

other than the time

Replaces "except" with "other than", providing a direct and clear exclusion.

but for the time

Uses "but for", indicating that something would be the case if not for the specified time.

excluding the time

Directly indicates that the specified time is not included or considered.

with the exception of the time

Adds formality by using a longer, more explicit phrase.

apart from the time

Similar to "aside from", offering a slightly different phrasing for the exclusion.

not counting the time

Emphasizes that the time is not being included in the consideration.

discounting the time

Indicates that the time is being disregarded or not taken into account.

FAQs

How can I use "except for the time" in a sentence?

Use "except for the time" to specify a particular instance that doesn't fit a general statement. For instance, "The trip was wonderful, "except for the time" we got lost."

What phrases are similar to "except for the time"?

Alternatives include "aside from the time", "apart from the time", or "with the exception of the time". These phrases offer slightly different nuances while conveying the same basic meaning.

Is it correct to say "except for the time when"?

Yes, adding "when" after "except for the time" is grammatically correct and helps introduce a specific event or situation that serves as the exception. For example, "I enjoyed the concert, "except for the time when" the sound system failed."

How formal is the phrase "except for the time"?

The phrase "except for the time" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal writing, you might consider using "with the exception of the time".