exception to the general pattern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exception to the general pattern" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a case or situation that does not conform to the usual rules or trends. Example: "While most students performed well on the exam, Sarah was an exception to the general pattern, scoring significantly lower than her peers."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

With a lower starting point, Hungary is the one exception to the general pattern, despite ongoing drop in turnout in elections held after 2000.

The Guardian

But neither does there appear to be a gay and lesbian exception to the general pattern that "children appear most apt to succeed well as adults … when they spend their entire childhood with their married mother and father".

The New York Times

(The exception to the general pattern of stiff upper lip, she notes, was the misogyny speech – a moment to give force to frustration. That small fury whipped around the world – the power of that universal experience – it opens the deep desire for sharing).

The Guardian

For TIMSS Advanced mathematics item dependence on mathematical theorems, we obtain a result which seems to form an interesting exception to the general pattern described above.

Large-scale Assessments in Education

As such, it is possible that these traits that distinguish Spirochaetes from other microbes explain their exception to the general pattern.

Plosone

The codon-anticodon adaptation is long known [18] [23], and the pattern described above would have been nice but boring had there not been an interesting and singular exception to the general pattern of tRNA anticodon matching the most abundant codon.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

There were two notable exceptions to the general pattern of H. erectus uniqueness.

Journal of Human Evolution

There are, however, a few exceptions to the general pattern of extinction or isolation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Reporters Barton Gellman, Walter Pincus and Dana Milbank of the Washington Post; Bob Drogin of the Los Angeles Times; David Sanger and William Broad of the New York Times; Warren Strobel, Jonathan Landay and John Walcott of Knight Ridder; and Dafna Linzer of the Associated Press were prominent exceptions to the general pattern of WMD reportage.

Yale University

Two notable exceptions to the general pattern were Rolls-Royce in Britain and Ford in the United States, both of which were founded as carmakers by partners who combined engineering talent and business skill.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The few exceptions to the general pattern of increase in developmental rate may in part be within the error variance of the instrument.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "exception to the general pattern", ensure that you clearly define the general pattern first. This provides context and highlights the significance of the exception.

Common error

Avoid assuming that a single instance negates the existence of a general pattern. An "exception to the general pattern" acknowledges the overall trend while highlighting a specific deviation, not disproving the entire pattern.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exception to the general pattern" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as a subject complement or appositive. It identifies a specific instance or case that diverges from a broader, more prevalent trend. Ludwig confirms its correct and usable form.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "exception to the general pattern" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that highlights a deviation from a typical or expected trend. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. Appearing frequently in scientific, news and media, and encyclopedia contexts, it serves to qualify generalizations by pointing out specific cases that don't conform. When using this phrase, ensure that the general pattern is clearly defined to emphasize the significance of the exception. Alternatives like "departure from the norm" and "anomaly in the overall trend" can be used depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

departure from the norm

Focuses on the deviation from what is considered typical or standard.

deviation from the standard

Highlights the act of differing from an established benchmark.

inconsistency with the usual trend

Emphasizes the lack of conformity with a prevailing tendency.

divergence from the typical model

Suggests a branching off from a common or representative structure.

aberration from the common course

Implies an unusual or unwelcome departure from a normal sequence of events.

anomaly in the overall trend

Highlights an irregularity or something that deviates from the normal.

irregularity in the established order

Stresses the departure from a fixed or conventional arrangement.

nonconformity to the typical behavior

Underlines the failure to align with expected conduct or performance.

outlier in the general distribution

Indicates a data point that significantly differs from other data points in a dataset.

rare instance within the prevailing system

Suggests an uncommon occurrence within a dominant or widespread framework.

FAQs

How do I properly use "exception to the general pattern" in a sentence?

Start by stating the general pattern, then introduce the exception using "exception to the general pattern". For example, "The stock market typically rises in the spring, but this year's economic downturn is an "exception to the general pattern"".

What are some alternatives I can use instead of "exception to the general pattern"?

You can use alternatives like "departure from the norm", "deviation from the standard", or "anomaly in the overall trend" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "an exception of the general pattern" instead of "exception to the general pattern"?

No, the correct phrasing is "exception to the general pattern". "Exception of" implies the pattern somehow possesses the exception, which is incorrect.

What's the difference between "exception to the general pattern" and "contradiction of the general pattern"?

"Exception to the general pattern" indicates a deviation that doesn't necessarily disprove the pattern, whereas "contradiction of the general pattern" implies something that actively opposes and potentially invalidates the pattern.