except in exceptional situations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "except in exceptional situations" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a certain rule or condition does not apply in specific, unusual circumstances. Example: "The policy is strict, except in exceptional situations where flexibility is warranted."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

One of the many legal implications of "personhood" legislation, for example, is the criminalizing of abortion except in exceptional situations.

Huffington Post

As it turns out, six of the eight homeopathic studies in the final analysis by Shang used homeopathic medicines that were unlikely to be prescribed by a practicing homeopath (they prescribe their medicines based on the overall syndrome of physical and psychological symptoms the patient has, not just based on the diagnosed name of the disease, except in exceptional situations).

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But in "exceptional situations," which are "not in fact so very exceptional," he said, human rights and democracy take precedence.

The New York Times

So in exceptional situations it is natural for many different political forces to get together".

The New Yorker

"Heroism is acceptable in exceptional situations, but these must not last too long".

The New Yorker

Prompt reaction in exceptional situations as well as in daily work gets an extensive support.

Tsinghua Science & Technology

Under his proposals, regulators would "gain clear powers to restrict or ban short-selling in exceptional situations," Mr. Barnier said.

The New York Times

"The constitution gives the president the right to issue decrees in exceptional situations, out of necessity," said Elhelw.

The Guardian

In exceptional situations, transportation may be provided for these employees depending on the circumstances.

Duke University

However, one needs to bear the toxicity in mind, especially in the case of ciclosporin A and cyclophosphamide; the latter drug should only be used in exceptional situations.

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases

Biopsies are needed only in exceptional situations, e.g. in patients in whom the diagnosis is unexpected due to an atypical clinical course.

Acta Neuropathologica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "except in exceptional situations", clearly define or provide examples of what constitutes an 'exceptional situation' within your specific context to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "except in exceptional situations" without specifying what qualifies as 'exceptional'. Lack of clarity can lead to inconsistent application of rules and potential disputes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except in exceptional situations" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when the action or state described does not apply. As Ludwig AI highlights, it introduces a caveat or exception to a general statement.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "except in exceptional situations" functions as an adverbial phrase that introduces caveats to general rules or guidelines. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Usage is most common in news, scientific, and academic contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. To use the phrase effectively, clearly define what constitutes an 'exceptional situation' to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives include "unless under special circumstances" and "save in extraordinary cases". Despite its relatively low frequency, the phrase serves an important purpose in specifying the limitations of rules and policies.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excluding special cases

Similar to "unless under special circumstances", but with a slightly more formal tone.

unless under special circumstances

Replaces "exceptional situations" with "special circumstances", implying a deviation from the norm under specific conditions.

save in extraordinary cases

Substitutes "exceptional" with "extraordinary" and "situations" with "cases", emphasizing the rarity of the exception.

apart from particular instances

Uses "particular instances" instead of "exceptional situations", suggesting specific, individual exceptions.

barring unusual events

Replaces the entire phrase with a construction highlighting the exclusion of uncommon events.

excluding unforeseen conditions

Focuses on the unexpected nature of the circumstances that warrant an exception.

outside of typical scenarios

Highlights that the situations are not within the normal range of possibilities.

except when circumstances warrant it

This alternative puts an emphasis on the circumstances as needing to justify the exception.

except where circumstances dictate otherwise

Emphasizes that unique circumstances are the deciding factor in making an exception.

unless otherwise stated

A more general phrase suggesting exceptions exist but aren't specifically defined.

FAQs

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

Use "except in exceptional situations" to indicate that a general rule or procedure has specific, unusual exceptions. For example, "The policy applies to all employees, "except in exceptional situations" where prior authorization is granted".

What phrases can I use instead of "except in exceptional situations"?

Alternatives include phrases like "unless under special circumstances", "save in extraordinary cases", or "apart from particular instances", depending on the desired level of formality and specificity.

Is it better to say "except in exceptional situations" or "except in special circumstances"?

Both phrases are acceptable, but ""except in exceptional situations"" implies that the situations are particularly rare or unusual, while "except in special circumstances" is a more general term for unusual conditions.

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

It is appropriate to use "except in exceptional situations" when outlining rules or guidelines that have very specific and infrequent exceptions. Be sure to define what qualifies as an "exceptional situation" clearly to avoid ambiguity.