except in the instance of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "except in the instance of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a particular statement or rule does not apply in specific situations or cases. Example: "All employees must adhere to the dress code, except in the instance of casual Fridays."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"The federal government has respected those determinations, except in the instance of gay and lesbian couples marrying," she said.

The New York Times

However, comparisons among only the four additive and weighted multimorbidity scales were not statistically significant, except in the instance of medication use.

BMC Geriatrics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Lastly, model 4 adjusted for the previous covariates of model 3 in addition to hypertension status, except for in the instance of cancer mortality.

Diabetes Care

Governor Romney's plan would eviscerate the right to abortion enjoyed by American women since 1973, barring access to abortion except in the instances of rape, incest, or a threat to the woman's life.

Huffington Post

The boat has come to signify the plight of refugees, too, who often endure perilous conditions and face death to evade peril and death at home (except, of course, in the instance of forced immigration).

Vice

In this experiment, we observe that there still is no large difference in the "ratio" between all cases except for the instance of D00079.

Journal of Cheminformatics

The audience members are the reason for the enterprise, except for the instance of a hermit supported by a patron.

Huffington Post

They matter — except in this instance, of a story told by Timothy to Mommy about Geoffrey, in which Mommy is suddenly indifferent to stories altogether.

The New Yorker

Yet, white women did not appear in this show – except in the lone instance of the decapitated head of a white woman in Judith and Holofernes.

The Guardian

19 In the 2010, seventh edition of the AJCC melanoma staging system, Clark level is no longer used as a primary criterion for the definition of T1b tumors (which are now defined by the presence of a dermal mitotic rate of ≥1/mm or the presence of ulceration) except in the instance referred to above.

American Journal of Surgical Pathology

Furthermore, 14 of the genes that are listed as fused are fused more than once in these tumors, suggesting that the fusions are not merely random events (although these genes are fused to a different partner gene in each instance, except in the case of the SEC16A-NOTCH1 fusion).

Breast Cancer Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more concise alternatives like "except when" or "with the exception of" for greater clarity and brevity.

Common error

Avoid using "except in the instance of" in informal contexts. It can sound stilted or unnecessarily complex. Opt for simpler alternatives like "except for" or "unless" in casual conversation and less formal writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except in the instance of" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces an exception to a general statement or rule. As shown by Ludwig, it sets a condition where the general rule does not apply.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "except in the instance of" serves as a formal prepositional phrase used to introduce exceptions to general rules or statements. While grammatically correct, as noted by Ludwig, its formality makes it less common in everyday conversation. The phrase is mostly used in scientific, news, and formal contexts. For more concise and informal expressions, consider alternatives like "with the exception of" or "except when". When using the phrase, ensure it aligns with the overall tone and register of your writing to maintain consistency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with the exception of

This is a more common and direct way to state an exception.

except when

This alternative is a more concise way to indicate an exception regarding time or condition.

unless in the case of

This alternative focuses on the condition that triggers the exception.

except if

This alternative specifies a conditional exception.

excepting in the case of

This alternative uses "excepting" which is less common and more formal.

save for the instance of

This is a more formal and somewhat archaic alternative.

but for the instance of

This phrase emphasizes the impact of the exception.

excluding the instance of

This phrase highlights the exclusion of a specific case.

apart from the instance of

This phrase emphasizes the separation of a specific case from the general rule.

not considering the instance of

This is a more explicit way to disregard a particular case.

FAQs

What does "except in the instance of" mean?

The phrase "except in the instance of" means that a particular rule or statement does not apply in specific situations. It's similar to saying "with the exception of" or "unless in the case of".

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

Some alternatives include "with the exception of", "except when", "unless in the case of", or simply "except for", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to use "except in the instance of"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct, but it can sound formal. It's best used when you want to emphasize the specific circumstances under which an exception applies.

When should I use "except in the instance of" instead of "except for"?

Use "except in the instance of" when you want to highlight a specific occurrence or situation where the exception applies. "Except for" is more general and doesn't necessarily emphasize a particular case. For example, "All employees must wear uniforms, "except for" Fridays" versus "All employees must wear uniforms, "except in the instance of" a company-sponsored casual day".