in individual instances

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in individual instances" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to specific cases or occurrences rather than general situations. Example: "The policy may not apply universally, but it can be effective in individual instances where unique circumstances arise."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

That was probably the case in individual instances.

Yale University

Tells about the influence of permissiveness on love, both in the social atmosphere & in individual instances..

The New Yorker

Tells about the influence of permissiveness on love, both in the social atmosphere & in individual instances.

The New Yorker

We should be attentive to our history and context, and be open to believing, disbelieving, agreeing, or disagreeing, in individual instances, based on evidence.

The New Yorker

Care must be used in interpreting the phrase on average, which applies most accurately to a large number of cases and is not useful in individual instances.

Britannica

For Mr. Ochs's unusual thoughtfulness and generosity in individual instances hundreds of The Times staff in both important and humble positions had cause to be grateful.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

As for claims of child-labor violations and stores too understaffed for worker breaks, Ms. Williams said, "In a company that has more than 1 million people in the U.S. alone, I have no doubt that in some individual instances that can happen".

The New York Times

Since we have relaxed the requirement so that the TFs in these cliques do not need to form a hard clique in all individual instances, we refer to this approach as finding "soft" TF cliques.

Algorithms for Molecular Biology

What we learnt was that in displaying individual instances of words as blocks we had a useful way of navigating back to the original content.

The Guardian

Since convergent evolution of enzyme active sites was first identified in serine proteases, other individual instances of this phenomenon have been documented.

Journal of Molecular Biology

This suggests that participants are encoding the individual instances in related pairs, even though they create a generalization.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, prefer "in individual instances" to point out exceptions or specific deviations from a standard practice or expectation.

Common error

Avoid using evidence from "in individual instances" to make broad, sweeping generalizations. Always acknowledge that these instances are exceptions, not the norm.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in individual instances" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify the scope or applicability of an action or statement. It indicates that something is true or applicable only in specific, particular cases rather than as a general rule, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in individual instances" is a grammatically sound and useful expression for specifying that a statement or action applies only to particular cases, not as a general rule. While it is not exceedingly common, it finds usage across various contexts, including science, news and media, and academia. As Ludwig AI highlights, the phrase is correct and effective for adding precision to writing, cautioning against overgeneralization. It's a valuable tool for clearly delineating the scope of a claim and ensuring accurate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in specific cases

Focuses on the specificity of the situation, emphasizing particular scenarios.

in particular situations

Highlights the situational aspect, suggesting that the context is key.

in isolated instances

Emphasizes the rarity or uniqueness of the occurrences.

on a case-by-case basis

Indicates that each instance is evaluated separately and independently.

in select circumstances

Implies that the circumstances are carefully chosen or specific.

in certain situations

Highlights the conditional aspect, suggesting that the outcome depends on the situation.

in singular examples

Focuses on the uniqueness and individuality of the examples.

in discrete events

Emphasizes the distinct and separate nature of the events.

in unique occurrences

Highlights the exceptional or unusual nature of the events.

in exceptional cases

Implies that the cases deviate from the norm and require special attention.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use "in individual instances"?

Use "in individual instances" when you want to specify that something is true or applicable only in particular, specific cases and not as a general rule. It helps to highlight exceptions or deviations from a norm.

What are some alternatives to "in individual instances"?

You can use alternatives like "in specific cases", "in particular situations", or "on a case-by-case basis" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

How does "in individual instances" differ from "in general"?

"In general" refers to a broad, overall trend or rule, while "in individual instances" points to exceptions or specific situations where the general rule may not apply. They are essentially opposites in meaning.

Can "in individual instances" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "in individual instances" is suitable for formal writing. It is grammatically correct and can be used to add precision to your statements by specifying the limited applicability of a claim.