except in exceptional cases

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'except in exceptional cases' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to emphasize that something usually applies, but there are certain special situations where it does not. For example, "We require all employees to adhere to the company's dress code, except in exceptional cases."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

"The human brain, except in exceptional cases, can't remember a string of 16 solos.

The New York Times - Arts

The adjudicator will allow or refuse your appeal, but the decision is final and there is no automatic right to appeal, except in exceptional cases.

The Guardian - Money

The report by Dame Elish Angiolini QC will say there should be a ban on those detained under mental health powers being held in police cells, and being transported in police vehicles, except in exceptional cases.

The Guardian

The death penalty is now banned (except in exceptional cases, such as treason) in 108 countries; America, India and Japan are the only big democracies that continue the practice.

The Economist

We reiterate our recent recommendation: decisions to end a bilateral aid programme or to start a new one should be made only following a bilateral aid review, except in exceptional cases such as South Sudan". The UK's aid programme to South Africa is worth £19m a year.

The Guardian

If a scheme falls short of the 35% threshold or wants some of Khan's affordable housing budget in order to reach it, the mayor's team will, by contrast, want to see very detailed viability calculations which, except in exceptional cases, will be "scrutinised and treated transparently".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

"It's change that's long overdue". That same year, United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture Juan E. Mendez called for the end of solitary confinement except for in exceptional cases, and even then not in excess of 15 days.

HuffPost

Current German law allows dual citizenship only in exceptional cases.

The New York Times

In exceptional cases, however, the opposite is true.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Currently, this is only possible in exceptional cases.

The Guardian

In exceptional cases, soft power can rebrand a nation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "except in exceptional cases", ensure that the conditions defining an 'exceptional case' are clearly understood or explicitly defined to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "except in exceptional cases" as a blanket statement to excuse poor planning or lack of specific policies. Instead, strive to create comprehensive guidelines that minimize the need for exceptions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except in exceptional cases" functions as an exemption phrase, carving out specific scenarios from a general rule or statement. It indicates that a standard practice or policy has certain exceptions. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is usable and correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "except in exceptional cases" serves as a caveat, indicating specific situations where a general rule does not apply. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and usability. This phrase commonly appears in various contexts, including news media, academia, and scientific literature, maintaining a neutral register. While "except in exceptional cases" is widely accepted, clarity can be enhanced by explicitly defining the exceptional circumstances when possible. Alternatives such as ""except under special circumstances"" or ""save in rare instances"" can be used to achieve a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

except under special circumstances

Replaces "exceptional cases" with "special circumstances", suggesting specific conditions are needed for the exception.

excluding extraordinary circumstances

Substitutes "exceptional cases" with "extraordinary circumstances", suggesting unusual situations are excluded.

save in rare instances

Replaces "exceptional cases" with "rare instances", implying infrequent occurrences.

barring atypical situations

Uses "barring" to indicate exclusion and "atypical situations" to convey uncommon scenarios.

unless there are unusual situations

Emphasizes the conditional aspect with "unless", highlighting the presence of unusual situations.

apart from the occasional exception

Highlights the infrequency of the exceptions with "occasional exception".

excluding unforeseen situations

Highlights the unexpected nature of the exceptions by using "unforeseen situations".

aside from infrequent scenarios

Expresses the exception with "aside from" and refers to "infrequent scenarios" instead of cases.

with the exclusion of unique events

Focuses on the uniqueness of the exceptions by using "unique events".

outside of the ordinary

Uses a more general phrase "outside of the ordinary" to indicate exceptions to the norm.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "except in exceptional cases"?

Alternatives include "except under special circumstances", "save in rare instances", or "excluding extraordinary circumstances". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "except in exceptional cases" or list the exceptions?

Listing the exceptions provides clarity and avoids ambiguity. Use "except in exceptional cases" when a detailed list is impractical or the exceptions are genuinely unforeseeable.

What is the difference between "except in exceptional cases" and "in most cases"?

"Except in exceptional cases" highlights specific instances where a rule doesn't apply. "In most cases" implies a general trend without specifically addressing the exceptions.

How do I use "except in exceptional cases" in a formal document?

Ensure the context is clear and the phrase is followed by a general rule. For instance: "All employees must adhere to the dress code, "except in exceptional cases", such as medical emergencies."