except in case of emergency

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "except in case of emergency" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate that an action should not be taken unless there is an emergency situation. For example: "No visitors are allowed on the premises except in case of emergency."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

A member of the medical personnel can not access any data about a patient who has explicitly withdrawn consent for him or her, except in case of emergency.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

Even if the President has such power under some circumstances, should it be exercised, except in case of emergency?

Huffington Post

Should the positive achievements from Bosnia and Kosovo (known, of course, only in retrospect), affect our opinion on whether a President, in our representative democracy, be able to commit our nation to war without approval of those representatives, except in case of emergency?

Huffington Post

Another commonality is that the overwhelming majority of acute care hospitals are owned and operated by the public sector, with patients generally referred to hospital via primary care, except in case of emergency.

BMC Nursing

In contrast, patients that do not visit the provider except in case of emergency will not be assigned to the provider under the Medicare Shared Savings Program, because emergency care is not part of the definition of 'primary care services' upon which assignment is based [ 42].

BMC Health Services Research

Tell your family not to call you on your mental health day, except in case of emergency.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

In-case-of-emergency shelf stable food?

HuffPost

The monument's steps have been closed to visitors, except in case of emergencies, since the 1970s.

The Washington Post

Let your birth attendant know that you expect her to be vocal about your preferences to do things naturally except in case of emergencies.

WikiHow

Use only in case of emergency.

The New York Times

"Everybody gets one, in case of emergency.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "except in case of emergency", ensure the context clearly defines what constitutes an 'emergency' to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify whether it includes medical emergencies, security breaches, or other critical situations.

Common error

Avoid using "except in case of emergency" for minor deviations from rules or procedures. This phrase should be reserved for situations genuinely posing immediate risk or requiring urgent action to prevent significant harm.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except in case of emergency" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a preceding statement or rule. It introduces a condition under which the rule does not apply. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

28%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

7%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "except in case of emergency" is a grammatically sound and commonly used prepositional phrase to denote exceptions to rules or procedures. Ludwig AI indicates that it's used across varied contexts, including news, scientific, and general writing. Its primary function is to introduce conditions where standard rules don't apply, emphasizing urgent or critical deviations. When using it, define clearly what constitutes an emergency to avoid ambiguity. While versatile, this phrase is best reserved for genuinely critical situations, as overuse can diminish its impact. Alternatives include "unless there's an emergency" for simpler contexts. Source authority is high, and usage is consistent across different domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unless there's an emergency

Replaces the more formal structure with a simpler conditional construction.

barring emergencies

Uses a gerund to create a concise exception clause.

save for an emergency

Emphasizes the emergency as the only acceptable deviation.

absent an emergency situation

Formal and emphasizes the absence of an emergency as a condition.

except when an emergency arises

Changes the noun phrase to a clause emphasizing the event.

outside of emergencies

Uses "outside of" to indicate exclusion of emergency situations.

if not for an emergency

Focuses on the hypothetical removal of the emergency condition.

but for emergencies

A more concise and slightly more formal variation using 'but for'.

except during an emergency

Changes the structure to focus on the time period of the emergency.

aside from urgent situations

Uses "urgent situations" as a synonym for emergencies, broadening the scope slightly.

FAQs

How can I use "except in case of emergency" in a sentence?

You can use "except in case of emergency" to specify when a standard rule or procedure does not apply, such as, "The building is locked at night, "except in case of emergency"".

What's a simpler way to say "except in case of emergency"?

Simpler alternatives include "unless there's an emergency" or "barring emergencies", which are less formal but convey the same meaning.

Is it always necessary to define 'emergency' when using this phrase?

While not always necessary, defining what constitutes an 'emergency' can prevent confusion. For example, stating "Access is restricted, "except in cases of medical emergency"" provides clarity.

What's the difference between "except in case of emergency" and "in case of emergency"?

"Except in case of emergency" indicates an exception to a rule, while "in case of emergency" prepares for a potential future event. For instance, "No entry "except in case of emergency"" versus "Keep this number "in case of emergency"".