except the principle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "except the principle" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to exclude the principle from a statement or list of items. Example: "All the rules apply to everyone, except the principle, which has its own set of guidelines."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The idea of a distinction/composition thus has a precise theological function: not only does it distinguish everything from the Necessary Principle (everything except the Principle is twofold: Ilāhiyyāt, I, 7, 47, 18 19); it also reveals the divine creative act: everything except the Principle receives (or obtains) existence (Ilāhiyyāt, VIII, 3, 342, 10; Taʿlīqāt, 175, 10 176, 7).

SEP

All other whiskers except the principle whisker were cut off, the principle whisker was presented with different sandpapers (2 cm) with the tip of the vibrissa just touching the sand paper.

eLife

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

1003b25), for Avicenna being and one are a per se attributes of a thing, so that being and one are coextensive, although not identical in meaning, and this is so whenever we can speak of a "thing" (Druart 2001; Wisnovsky 2003a, esp. 158 60) i.e., always excepting the Principle.

SEP

Except that the principle purpose of the programs is, first, to make money and, second, to make wrinkles cool and oily ducklings clean.

Huffington Post

Neither of these ideals has been more than briefly and episodically descriptive of reality, or has served, except momentarily, as the principle around which the politics of race was organized, because, alas, not many realms in American life have been either truly color-blind or truly integrated.

The New Yorker

It has a policy against removing material from its archive (except in rare cases), on the principle that the record should be preserved.

The New York Times

The idea has been most fully developed in connection with arithmetic, where Crispin Wright has shown how Peano's postulates can be derived within the framework of second-order logic from nothing except the Humean principle that the same number attaches to equinumerous concepts.

SEP

The principle is fine.

Independent

"The principle holds".

The New York Times - Health

That's the principle.

The Guardian

The principle seems sound.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "except the principle", ensure that the principle being excluded is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "except the principle" if the intention is to modify the principle itself. Instead, clarify how the principle applies with specific conditions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except the principle" functions as a prepositional phrase that serves to introduce an exception to a general statement. It carves out a specific principle from a broader rule or condition, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "except the principle" is a grammatically correct and usable way to introduce an exception, setting a particular principle apart from a general rule. Though relatively rare, it appears across a range of sources, primarily scientific, academic, and news media. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is usable in written English. To ensure clarity, always clearly define the principle you are excluding. Close alternatives include "excluding the principle" and "apart from the principle".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excluding the principle

Direct synonym maintaining the exclusionary aspect.

apart from the principle

Slightly more formal, indicating a separation.

with the exception of the principle

More verbose, emphasizing the specific exception.

save for the principle

Somewhat archaic, similar to 'except for'.

other than the principle

General exclusion, less direct than 'except'.

not including the principle

Focuses on what is not included.

omitting the principle

Emphasizes the act of leaving something out.

barring the principle

More forceful exclusion.

excluding on principle

Highlights the reason for the exclusion.

without regard to the principle

Indicates a lack of consideration.

FAQs

How do I use "except the principle" in a sentence?

Use "except the principle" to exclude a specific principle from a general statement or set of rules. For example, "All policies apply to every department, "except the principle" of budget allocation."

What phrases are similar to "except the principle"?

Similar phrases include "excluding the principle", "apart from the principle", or "with the exception of the principle", each offering a slightly different emphasis.

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

Yes, "except the principle" is grammatically correct when used to create an exception to a general rule or condition. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is usable in written English.

When should I use "except the principle" over another exclusionary phrase?

Use "except the principle" when you want to specifically highlight that a particular principle is not subject to the same conditions as everything else. This is appropriate when the principle has unique considerations.