except the lines

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "except the lines" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something applies to everything except for specific lines or sections mentioned previously. Example: "The report is complete, except the lines that need further revision."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

3. Lorde – Royals Lyrics Everyone and their yappy dog already discussed everything except the lines "Let me be your ruler / You can call me Queen Bee". it doesn't come off as hypocritical and Lorde even admits to loving Nicki Minaj and Lana Del Rey.

Huffington Post

The most intriguing pattern was collateral sensitivity to gemcitabin in two cell lines and to ara-C in five drug-resistant cell lines, i.e. in all lines except the lines resistant to topo I poisons.

British Journal of Cancer

The lines were derived from metastatic lesions of patients treated at Radiumhemmet, Karolinska Hospital, except the lines 397mel kindly provided by Dr Y Kawakami NCI, Maryland, USA and FM3Dmel and FM55.M1mel kindly provided by Dr J Zeuthen, Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark.

British Journal of Cancer

Letter k: Same as uppercase K, except the lines angling up and down do not quite reach the top.

WikiHow

Add every detailing to the head Erase all lines except the lines of the eyes as shown here.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

A plausible reason is that all the dinosaurs had been killed off, except the line that evolved into birds, and the placental mammals speciated into the ecological niches that had been left vacant.

The New York Times - Science

It happened to Samsung last year, except the line was pink.

TechCrunch

Lines are impossible in Sons of Babylon, except the line between the living and the dead.

Huffington Post

A summary of the literature search, and our own results, is shown in Table  1 and Additional file 1: Table S2.> -wrap-foot> All TERT mutations were -124 bp(G > A) except the line marked as #-57 bp(T > G).

BMC Genomics

Skywriting, on the other hand, is like drawing in space, except that the lines do not stay where the writer puts them.

The New York Times

Even so, the eventual system, I.B.M.'s Universal Product Code, was based on similar principles, except that the lines were vertical, not circular.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "except the lines", ensure that the context clearly defines which specific lines are being excluded to avoid ambiguity. For instance, in a contract, specify the line numbers or a unique identifier for the exception.

Common error

Avoid using "except the lines" without clearly identifying which lines are being referred to. For example, instead of saying "All instructions apply except the lines", specify "All instructions apply except the lines 10-15" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except the lines" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, modifying a preceding noun or clause by introducing an exception. As confirmed by Ludwig, it correctly denotes an exclusion of specific lines from a broader statement.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

37%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "except the lines" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to indicate specific exclusions from a general statement. Ludwig confirms its proper usage and acceptability. While more common in scientific and media contexts, it is important to ensure clarity by explicitly defining which lines are being referred to. Alternatives such as "excluding the lines" and "apart from the lines" offer similar meanings. Proper usage enhances precision in both formal and neutral writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excluding the lines

Direct synonym, replacing "except" with "excluding" for a similar meaning.

apart from the lines

Replaces "except" with "apart from", indicating a similar exception.

with the exception of the lines

More formal phrasing emphasizing the exclusion.

save for the lines

A slightly more literary or old-fashioned way of saying "except".

but not the lines

A simpler and more direct way of indicating the exception.

other than the lines

Formally indicates that these specific lines are an exception.

aside from the lines

Similar to "apart from", offering a slightly different tone.

excluding those lines

Focuses on explicitly excluding the specified lines.

with the omission of the lines

Emphasizes the removal or exclusion of the lines.

not including the lines

Explicitly states that the lines are not included in what is being discussed.

FAQs

How can I use "except the lines" in a sentence?

The phrase "except the lines" is used to indicate that a statement or rule applies to everything else but those specific lines. For example: "The entire document is correct, "except the lines" that need further revision."

What's an alternative to using "except the lines"?

Alternatives include "excluding the lines", "apart from the lines", or "with the exception of the lines". The best choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it grammatically correct to say "except the lines"?

Yes, the phrase "except the lines" is grammatically correct when used to indicate an exception to a general statement. However, ensure the context makes clear what "the lines" refers to.

What is the difference between "except the lines" and "excluding the lines"?

Both phrases convey a similar meaning. "Except the lines" is slightly more common and can sound less formal than "excluding the lines", although the interchangeability is high.