instances not

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "instances not" is not correct and does not form a coherent expression in written English.
It may be intended to convey a negation or exclusion regarding specific instances, but it lacks clarity and context. Example: "In many cases, instances not addressed in the report can lead to misunderstandings."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Why were these instances not reported to the police or the local authority?

The Guardian

The test is not accurate enough, she said, and in many instances not reimbursed by insurers.

The New York Times - Health

Darwin uses empirical instances not inductively, to build proof, but infectiously, to weaken resistance.

The New Yorker

A manumitted slave became, in most instances, not only free but also a citizen.

Encyclopedia Britannica

If their achievements are within the general capacity of their species, why have many other instances not been reported?

The New York Times - Science

Sales representatives were incentivized in some instances not to sell Autonomy products because they reaped lower commissions.

The New York Times

And that means, in some instances, not connecting with the audience, which for a man of Mr. Daisey's skills must not be an easy thing to do.

The New York Times

"Before we recruited these men and women, they had, in most instances, not had any work," Mr. Southwick said of the spa's 10 therapists.

The New York Times

In other instances, not marrying could allow at least one partner to qualify for tax breaks that would have been out of reach if the combined their incomes.

The New York Times

In any case, the firm concluded, "there were only a limited number of instances," not nearly enough to justify questioning Deloitte's quality controls.

The New York Times

Ironically enough, Turing's proposals about machines were instances not of behaviourism but of precisely the kind of view of internal processes that behaviourists were eager to avoid.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "instances not" appears frequently, consider using more grammatically sound alternatives such as "cases where not" or "examples that are not" for clearer communication.

Common error

Avoid relying excessively on "instances not" as it can make your writing sound less precise. Try to be more specific by detailing what is lacking or being excluded, thus improving clarity and readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "instances not" functions primarily to introduce exceptions or exclusions within a broader context. While Ludwig AI identifies it as potentially incorrect, its frequent appearance indicates a pragmatic role in specifying cases that deviate from a general rule or observation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

45%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "instances not" is used frequently across diverse sources, including News & Media and Science, Ludwig AI classifies it as grammatically questionable. It functions to introduce exceptions or exclusions. For improved clarity and grammatical correctness, it is advised to substitute it with alternatives such as "cases where not" or "examples that are not". The register is generally neutral, allowing for use in various contexts, but precision is key. While widespread, mindful use of alternatives can enhance your writing. The frequency of this phrase is considered very common.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cases where not

Replaces "instances" with the more general term "cases", maintaining the negative condition.

situations where not

Substitutes "instances" with "situations", providing a broader contextual scope.

examples that are not

Replaces "instances" with "examples" and uses a more explicit negative construction.

occurrences that do not

Uses "occurrences" instead of "instances", and clarifies the negation with "do not".

times when not

Employs "times" to denote specific moments or occasions, retaining the negation.

occasions that aren't

Uses "occasions" as a synonym for "instances" and contracts "are not" for a slightly more informal tone.

circumstances where it doesn't

Shifts the focus to "circumstances" and uses "doesn't" to indicate a lack of something.

situations lacking

Condenses the phrase to focus on the absence of something in certain situations.

instances excluding

Uses "excluding" to convey a more direct sense of omission or exception.

examples absent of

Employs "absent of" to highlight the lack of something in particular examples.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "instances not"?

You can use alternatives like "cases where not", "examples that are not", or "situations where not" depending on the context.

Is "instances not" grammatically correct?

While commonly used, "instances not" is often considered grammatically awkward. It's generally better to rephrase using more explicit constructions such as "cases where something is not".

How can I improve the clarity of my writing when using a phrase similar to "instances not"?

To improve clarity, specify what characteristic is absent in those instances. For example, instead of "instances not included", try "instances where data was not available".

In what contexts is "instances not" most frequently used?

The phrase "instances not" appears in various contexts, including news reports, scientific papers, and encyclopedic entries, often to highlight exceptions or exclusions.