exceptional instances

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exceptional instances" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to specific cases or occurrences that are unusual or noteworthy. Example: "In exceptional instances, we may consider alternative solutions to the problem at hand."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Usually, it is to reward exceptional instances of rehabilitation or to express compassion.

The New York Times

Soumission marks one of those exceptional instances when politics and art arrive simultaneously.

The Guardian - Books

Felix charts his life through exceptional instances of heartache, beginning with an early girlfriend who fell for another boy while Felix was holding her hand at the movies.

The New York Times - Books

We should note that these are not exceptional instances, but absolutely frequent occurrences, as depicted by several additional examples in Fig. 1 [21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 29].

Brain Informatics

In many practical cases, however, it is desirable to leave the possibility to "override" the global object knowledge at the local level: in other words, it is interesting to recognize the pieces of knowledge that can admit exceptional instances in the local contexts that do not need to satisfy the general axiom.

Artificial Intelligence

However, organisations such as Eurordis have warned against unwarranted extrapolations based on such exceptional instances (Le Cam, 2011).

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

But we are worried that your article, by focusing on such an exceptional instance of fiscal irresponsibility without also discussing the vital importance of services to the developmentally disabled, could feed into the frenzy to cut state and federal funds for them.

The New York Times

In another exceptional instance, immunity to the blood-borne microfilarial stage of B. malayi appears to be mediated by Th1 cells and inhibited by IL-10 [ 46].

Current Opinion in Immunology

The instance where there are no NRPs on tumor cells is an exceptional case, and the threshold values for VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 are 10,000 and 6,000 receptors/tumor cell, respectively.

BMC Systems Biology

Images of dead bodies (especially if the individual is identifiable) should be avoided except in exceptional circumstances, for instance in connection to reporting atrocities of war.

Independent

The TEN-E funding scheme remained grounded in the necessity to resort to market-based principles and financing, with EU funding 'highly exceptional', restricted to instances of market failure.

Energy Policy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "exceptional instances", ensure the context clearly establishes what the norm or standard is from which these instances deviate.

Common error

Avoid using "exceptional instances" when you simply mean 'typical examples'. "Exceptional instances" should denote something that deviates significantly from the usual or expected.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exceptional instances" functions as a noun phrase that identifies specific occurrences or cases that are considered unusual, noteworthy, or deviating from a standard or norm. Ludwig confirms that the expression is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "exceptional instances" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to denote rare or unusual occurrences, as validated by Ludwig. It is most commonly found in scientific and news contexts, indicating its utility in both analytical and descriptive writing. While "exceptional instances" isn't particularly frequent, with Ludwig reporting it as 'Uncommon', its clear and precise meaning makes it a valuable addition to one's vocabulary. When using the phrase, ensure that the context establishes a clear norm from which these instances deviate. Alternatives such as "rare occurrences" or "uncommon cases" can be used depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rare occurrences

Replaces "instances" with a synonym and "exceptional" with a similar adjective, maintaining the sense of infrequency.

uncommon cases

Substitutes both words with near synonyms, emphasizing the unusual nature of the situations.

isolated incidents

Focuses on the singularity and separateness of the events, rather than their quality.

unique situations

Highlights the distinctiveness of the circumstances, suggesting they are unlike others.

remarkable examples

Emphasizes the noteworthiness of the examples, shifting focus slightly from rarity to significance.

extraordinary events

Emphasizes the unusual and noteworthy nature of the events.

atypical situations

Focuses on the departure from the norm, rather than inherent qualities.

outlier occurrences

Uses statistical terminology to indicate events that fall outside the typical range.

singular circumstances

Highlights the uniqueness of the situation, indicating that it is distinct and not commonly encountered.

infrequent happenings

Combines synonyms to emphasize the low frequency of the events.

FAQs

How can I use "exceptional instances" in a sentence?

Use "exceptional instances" to refer to cases that are rare or deviate from the norm. For example, "In "exceptional instances", the rules may be waived."

What are some alternatives to "exceptional instances"?

You can use alternatives like "rare occurrences", "uncommon cases", or "isolated incidents" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "very exceptional instances"?

While not grammatically incorrect, "very exceptional instances" can be considered redundant since "exceptional" already implies a high degree of rarity or deviation. Consider using "particularly rare cases" instead if you want to emphasize the rarity.

What distinguishes "exceptional instances" from "typical examples"?

"Exceptional instances" refer to occurrences that are not representative of the norm, while "typical examples" illustrate common or representative cases. They are essentially opposites.