except when required

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "except when required" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a certain condition applies unless there is a specific requirement that necessitates an exception. Example: "You may submit your report in any format, except when required by the supervisor to use the standard template."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Sir Alex also remains the only manager in the Premiership to refuse to hold post-match press conferences, except when required to do so by Uefa following Champions League games.

The Guardian

Irving Kator, the charity's general counsel, confirmed that he signed a contract with Dulcy Hooper, a former fund-raiser, settling her job discrimination claims on the condition that she say nothing ever about the charity "except when required to do so in response to an order of courts".

The New York Times

Patient disclosures and records are treated confidentially, and, except when required by law, patients are given the opportunity to approve or refuse their release.

Johns Hopkins University

A series of preliminary recommendations by the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission called for the department to bar jail access to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials and stop honoring ICE's requests to detain inmates, except when required by law.

Los Angeles Times

In fact, no talking at all except when required by another rule, to call a point of order, or when in the middle of a point of order.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Feed them when required.

WikiHow

Use when required.

WikiHow

674, 686—690, 27 L.Ed.2d 701 (opinion of Brennan, J). In short, the trend since Hans was decided in 1890 has been against enforcement of governmental immunity except when clearly required by explicit textual prohibitions, as in the Eleventh Amendment.

Cornell University

District officials would say only that the district had changed its policy to prohibit outside entities from operating as fiscal agents in after-school programs, except when financers required them to do so.

The New York Times

Except when specifically required, the term 'investigator' used in this protocol and in the CRF is referred to the investigator or to a qualified person designed by him/her to carry out all the activities related to the clinical trial and to sign in his/her stead the study documents.

BMJ Open

Should we stay out of wars except when they require air power and huge armored divisions?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "except when required" to clearly specify an exception to a general rule or guideline. This phrase helps avoid ambiguity and ensures that readers understand when the rule does not apply.

Common error

Avoid using "except when required" in sentences where the requirement is already implied or obvious. This can make your writing sound redundant and less concise. For instance, instead of saying "Employees must wear uniforms, except when required by management to wear casual attire", simply state "Employees must wear uniforms unless otherwise directed by management."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except when required" functions as an exception marker. It is typically used to introduce a condition under which a general rule or statement does not apply. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Science

20%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "except when required" is a conjunction phrase used to introduce a conditional exception to a rule or guideline. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It's most commonly found in news and media, academic, and wiki sources. When using this phrase, ensure it adds clarity and avoids redundancy. Alternatives such as "unless mandated" or "except as needed" may be used depending on the context. Be careful to not overuse it in simple sentences where the requirement is already implied.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unless it is mandatory

This alternative emphasizes the obligatory nature of the requirement.

save where necessary

This phrase offers a more concise way to express the conditional exception.

except if it's obligatory

This alternative uses "obligatory" to stress the binding nature of the requirement.

only when stipulated

This alternative emphasizes that the requirement is clearly specified.

but only if necessary

This phrase provides a simple and direct way to indicate a conditional necessity.

except in cases where it's needed

This longer version clarifies the circumstances under which the exception applies.

unless circumstances necessitate

This alternative uses more formal language and emphasizes the role of circumstances.

barring mandatory instances

This offers a formal approach to indicate exception.

excluding prescribed situations

This alternative indicates situations specifically outlined where the exception applies.

apart from when it's a must

This phrase presents a more informal way to express the exception.

FAQs

How to use "except when required" in a sentence?

Use "except when required" to introduce an exception to a general rule or guideline. For example, "All data must be encrypted, "except when required" for debugging purposes".

What can I say instead of "except when required"?

Alternatives include "unless mandated", "unless necessary", or "except as needed", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "except when required" or "except if required"?

"Except when required" is generally preferred because "when" refers to a condition or circumstance, while "if" implies a hypothetical situation. Both can be grammatically correct, but "except when" is more common.

What's the difference between "except when required" and "unless required"?

"Except when required" highlights a specific instance where the rule does not apply, while "unless required" sets a broader condition for the rule's exception. "Except when" is more specific, while "unless" is more general.