except in exceptional circumstances

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'except in exceptional circumstances' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that a certain rule applies in general, but can be overridden in unusual, rare cases. For example: "Our policy states that no refunds will be given, except in exceptional circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

*Police should not name or identify those arrested, except in exceptional circumstances.

Independent

It says that we should – except in exceptional circumstances – avoid anonymous pejorative quotes.

The Guardian - Opinion

Except in exceptional circumstances, the QP should not exceed 60double-spaceddouble-spaced

Stanford University

Corporate/Commissioning recruitment and the use of agency/bank/locums has been frozen except in exceptional circumstances.

The Guardian

Except in exceptional circumstances, the same outcome will occur regardless of how you vote or what policies you support.

The Washington Post

Once a tutorial has been arranged, it is very difficult to change it except in exceptional circumstances.

Stanford University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

The FA's third-party ownership regulations prevents clubs from making payments to third parties except for in exceptional circumstances.

BBC

They reject overt control systems for delivering anaesthesia,except for use in exceptional circumstances.

British Journal of Anaesthesia

We only allow that in exceptional circumstances".

The New York Times

Sometimes, but only in exceptional circumstances.

The Economist

They may also telecommute in exceptional circumstances.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "except in exceptional circumstances" when you want to acknowledge that deviations from a policy may be necessary to address unique problems or promote fairness on an individual basis.

Common error

A common mistake is not clarifying what qualifies as "exceptional circumstances". This lack of clarity can lead to inconsistent application of the rule or policy and potential disputes. Always provide examples or guidelines to illustrate what constitutes an exception.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except in exceptional circumstances" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by introducing an exception to a general statement. It sets a condition under which the general statement does not apply. Ludwig provides numerous examples across various domains to illustrate its usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "except in exceptional circumstances" is a common and grammatically correct construction used to introduce caveats to general rules or policies. As Ludwig AI confirms, its purpose is to acknowledge that deviations from established guidelines may be necessary in specific, unusual situations. The phrase finds frequent application across diverse contexts, including news reporting, academic writing, scientific literature, and formal business communications. Ludwig's examples showcase the phrase's versatility, demonstrating its value in promoting clear and nuanced communication. While commonly used, writers should be mindful of precisely describing the conditions under which exceptions should be permitted.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

except in specific circumstances

Replaces 'exceptional' with 'specific', suggesting a more defined set of exceptions.

except in exceptional cases

Replaces 'circumstances' with 'cases', focusing on specific instances.

except in special circumstances

Employs 'special' to denote the unique quality of the situation warranting an exception.

except in rare circumstances

Substitutes 'exceptional' with 'rare', emphasizing the infrequency of the exception.

except in unusual circumstances

Uses 'unusual' instead of 'exceptional', highlighting the atypical nature of the situation.

except under extraordinary conditions

More formal and emphasizes the extreme nature of the conditions.

unless there are extenuating factors

Introduces the concept of 'extenuating factors', which justify the exception.

save in particular instances

Uses 'save' to introduce the exception and 'particular instances' to highlight specific occurrences.

barring unforeseen situations

Focuses on the unexpected and unpredictable nature of the circumstances.

excluding peculiar instances

Highlights the odd or strange nature of the instances being excluded.

FAQs

How can I use "except in exceptional circumstances" in a sentence?

You can use "except in exceptional circumstances" to introduce an exception to a general rule or guideline. For example, "Our policy states that no refunds will be given, "except in exceptional circumstances"."

What are some alternatives to "except in exceptional circumstances"?

Alternatives include "except in specific circumstances", "except in rare circumstances", or "except in unusual circumstances". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "except in exceptional circumstances"?

It is appropriate to use "except in exceptional circumstances" when you want to create a generally applicable rule but acknowledge that there may be rare, unforeseen situations where the rule should not apply.

What makes a circumstance 'exceptional'?

An 'exceptional' circumstance is one that deviates significantly from the norm, is highly unusual, and warrants a deviation from established rules or procedures. The determination of what constitutes an exceptional circumstance is subjective and depends on context.