except in the event of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "except in the event of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to specify conditions under which something will not apply or will change, typically in legal or formal contexts. Example: "The contract will remain valid, except in the event of a breach by either party."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Costa seemed to rule out the prospect of a grand coalition with the current ruling parties except "in the event of an alien invasion".

The Guardian

Rugby union does not allow a player who has been replaced back on to the field (unless he is a front-rower) except in the event of a blood injury, which is deemed to be temporary.

The Guardian - Sport

Mr. Bush had repeatedly promised to run an overall budget surplus at least as large as the Social Security surplus, except in the event of recession, war or national emergency.

The New York Times

Under Australian conventions, the speaker is not allowed to cast a vote except in the event of a tie, effectively giving Ms. Gillard a one-vote majority in the lower house.

The New York Times

McGillivray accepted a U.S. Army commission as a brigadier general and a salary of $100 a month, but he did not promise U.S. trade except in the event of war between Britain and Spain, at the time a possibility.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The city code bars anyone from playing three-card monte on any public street, sidewalk or plaza, and it prohibits parachuting over New York City, "except in the event of imminent danger or while under official orders of any branch of the military service".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Although, nothing can help except firefighters in the event of a fire even though some rolls of film could be burned.

WikiHow

In the event of such termination, Yahoo.

Plosone

As soon as it was realised that all motion is relative (which happened long before Einstein), distance in space became ambiguous except in the case of simultaneous events, but it was still thought that there was no ambiguity about simultaneity in different places.

Encyclopedia Britannica

More than that, several studies have revealed that the human gut microbiome is relatively stable in adults over time except in the case of special events such as diet intervention, infectious diarrhea or international immigration (David et al., 2014a; Faith et al., 2013).

Protein & Cell

A fall in the world oil price looks unlikely, and if Iran's oil was stopped from reaching the market prices would rise higher still (except in the improbable event of Saudi Arabia pumping enough extra to fill the gap).In the longer run, Iran faces a different sort of vulnerability.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "except in the event of", ensure the condition that triggers the exception is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. Be specific about what constitutes the "event".

Common error

Avoid using "except in the event of" with overly broad or undefined conditions. Instead of saying "except in the event of problems", specify the exact problems that would trigger the exception.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except in the event of" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a condition that forms an exception to a general statement. As Ludwig highlights, it specifies circumstances where something will not apply or will change.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

36%

Encyclopedias

14%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "except in the event of" is a prepositional phrase used to introduce a specific condition that forms an exception to a general rule or statement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase, appearing frequently in news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts. When using this phrase, clarity and specificity are key to avoiding ambiguity. Alternative phrases such as "unless there is" or "with the exception of" can be used, depending on the context. Remember to use this phrase to introduce a specific condition that makes the situation different from what was generally expected.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with the exception of

Formal way to indicate an exclusion or special case.

unless there is

Focuses on the existence of a condition that invalidates a previous statement.

except when

Highlights the timing or circumstance under which an exception applies.

save for

Implies an exception or exclusion from a general statement.

but if

Indicates a conditional exception, focusing on the 'if' clause.

aside from

Highlights the exclusion of something from a broader category.

other than if

A slightly more verbose way of expressing a conditional exception.

excluding

Directly specifies the exclusion of something.

barring

Indicates that something prevents or obstructs a possibility.

notwithstanding

Formally introduces something that contrasts with or contradicts a previous statement.

FAQs

How can I use "except in the event of" in a sentence?

You can use "except in the event of" to introduce a specific condition that serves as an exception to a general rule or agreement. For instance, "The agreement is valid, "except in the event of" a breach of contract by either party".

What are some alternatives to "except in the event of"?

Alternatives include "unless there is", "with the exception of", or "except when", depending on the context.

Is it more formal to use "except in the event of" or "except when"?

"Except in the event of" generally carries a more formal tone compared to "except when", making it suitable for legal documents or official agreements.

What's the difference between "except in the event of" and "except for"?

"Except for" is used to exclude something directly, whereas "except in the event of" introduces a conditional exclusion based on a specific circumstance. For example, "All employees are eligible for benefits, "except for" part-time workers" vs. "All employees are eligible for benefits, "except in the event of" termination of employment".