except in some cases

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "except in some cases" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a statement or rule does not apply in certain specific situations. Example: "The policy is strict, except in some cases where exceptions can be made for special circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

Tibiotalar arthrosis is well tolerated usually, except in some cases of malleolar surgical malunion which result in talar malrotation and extremely pathogenic joint incongruence.

EMC - Podologie

Warhol left behind tens of thousands of items, many of which he never touched, except in some cases to add a signature.

The New York Times

… Everything that was taken for the use of the army was paid for, except in some cases when the tender of the money was refused.

The New York Times

Sick leave is not part of salary or wages to which an employee is entitled regardless of need; it is not payable upon termination, except in some cases upon retirement (see 4.3.15 below).

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Delineation has been found to agree with the operators' visual inspection most of the time except in some cases when the tumor is close to the boundary of the brain.

Computerized Medical Imaging and Graphics

The correlation between the DSD measured and derived using the empirical model was found to be quite good (0.9) except in some cases where the coefficient dropped to 0.75.

Advances in Space Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

However, single-segment thoracic spinal tuberculosis with neurological deficits (STSTND) has rarely been reported in literature, except in some case reports in the mainstream academic journals.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

These are cryptic clues, except that in some cases the wordplay and definition halves indicate words that are one letter different from each other.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

We cannot say, with high confidence, why, or even based on what criteria, they do so except for in some cases where the website states a reason.

University of California, Berkeley

Muscles were fixed and treated as described [22] except that in some cases osmication was done in the presence of 1.5% potassium ferrocyanide ("reduced osmium") for darker glycogen staining [52].

Plosone

Bisalbuminemia is of little diagnostic or therapeutic significance, except that in some cases it might result in altered binding of steroid hormones and thyroxine.

CKJ: Clinical Kidney Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "except in some cases" to introduce a specific set of circumstances where a general rule or statement does not apply, enhancing precision and clarity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "except in some cases" too frequently in a single piece of writing. Overusing it can weaken the main argument and make your writing seem uncertain or lacking in specific details. Be precise about which cases are the exceptions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except in some cases" functions as an qualifier, introducing a caveat or exception to a general statement. This indicates that the preceding statement is not universally true and that there are specific situations where it does not apply. Ludwig confirms this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "except in some cases" serves as a qualifier, introducing exceptions to general statements. As verified by Ludwig, its usage is grammatically correct and commonly found in various contexts, including science, news and media, and academia. While relatively uncommon, it adds precision to writing by acknowledging limitations. Related phrases like "with some exceptions" and "save in certain instances" can be used as alternatives. Remember to use it judiciously to maintain clarity and specificity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with some exceptions

Replaces "in some cases" with a more concise noun phrase, focusing on the exceptions themselves.

save in certain instances

Uses "save" to indicate an exception and "instances" to refer to specific situations.

unless in specific situations

Employs "unless" to introduce conditional exceptions, highlighting particular circumstances.

apart from occasional instances

Indicates that the exceptions are infrequent or not very common, adding a nuance of rarity.

barring a few exceptions

Uses "barring" to mean excluding, suggesting only a small number of exceptions exist.

excluding some circumstances

Clearly states the exclusion of certain situations from a general rule or statement.

except where noted

A more concise alternative, implying exceptions are specifically indicated elsewhere.

subject to certain conditions

Highlights that the general statement depends on meeting specific requirements, or not violating certain conditions

with limited exceptions

Clarifies that while exceptions exist, they are not numerous or significant.

in exceptional circumstances only

Emphasizes that the exception is rare and occurs only under unique conditions.

FAQs

How can I use "except in some cases" in a sentence?

Use "except in some cases" to indicate that a general statement has exceptions. For example, "The rule applies to all students, "except in some cases" where special accommodations are needed."

What are some alternatives to "except in some cases"?

You can use alternatives like "with some exceptions", "save in certain instances", or "unless in specific situations" depending on the context.

Is it more formal to use "except in some cases" or "with some exceptions"?

Both ""except in some cases"" and "with some exceptions" are suitable for formal writing. However, "with some exceptions" might be slightly more concise and direct.

When is it appropriate to use "except in some cases" rather than stating the exceptions directly?

Use ""except in some cases"" when the exceptions are varied or numerous and would make the main statement cumbersome if listed individually. It's best when the specific exceptions are either well-understood or detailed elsewhere.