unless indicated otherwise

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unless indicated otherwise" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to draw attention to the fact that something is true by default, unless another specified condition is met. For example, "You are responsible for completing the task by the end of the week, unless indicated otherwise."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

All activities are free with museum admission unless indicated otherwise.

The New York Times - Arts

Data are expressed as mean ± S.D. unless indicated otherwise.

Nature

All steps were performed at RT, unless indicated otherwise.

Nature

Data values represent mean ± SDTEV unless indicated otherwise.

Nature

Chemicals were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich unless indicated otherwise.

AMB Express

Running times are given per core, unless indicated otherwise.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Integrals are from −∞ to ∞ in this article unless indicated otherwise.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

All concerts start at 6 p.m. unless indicated otherwise.

Los Angeles Times

Paired testing was applied unless indicated otherwise.

Plosone

Unless indicated otherwise, reagents were from BD Biosciences.

Plosone

All other reagents were purchased from Sigma, unless indicated otherwise.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unless indicated otherwise" to clearly establish a default condition, ensuring clarity in instructions or data presentation. This avoids unnecessary repetition and simplifies complex statements.

Common error

Avoid using "unless indicated otherwise" in sentences where the alternative is already obvious or easily implied. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal and cumbersome.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unless indicated otherwise" functions as an adverbial phrase that modifies a statement by introducing a condition or exception. It clarifies that the statement is generally true, but not always, as Ludwig's examples demonstrate. The phrase adds precision to the communication.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

84%

Formal & Business

7%

News & Media

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unless indicated otherwise" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to introduce exceptions to a general rule or condition. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and suitable for a wide array of contexts, especially in scientific, academic, and business writing where precision is key. While alternatives exist, such as "unless otherwise specified", the core function remains the same: to establish a default while acknowledging potential deviations. Overusing this phrase in simple sentences should be avoided for conciseness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unless otherwise specified

Focuses on the specification aspect, implying a formal declaration.

except when otherwise stated

Emphasizes the act of stating an alternative condition.

save where indicated differently

Uses "save" to introduce an exception to the general rule.

except if specified differently

Highlights the conditional nature of the exception.

excluding any contrary indication

Formal and highlights excluding any contrary information.

in the absence of any other indication

Focuses on the lack of alternative indications.

barring any alternative direction

Uses "barring" to denote the exclusion of a different direction.

unless a different direction is given

Directly states the condition of a different direction being provided.

if not otherwise noted

Highlights the action of noting a difference.

but if not

Short and simple way to express the exception.

FAQs

How can I use "unless indicated otherwise" in a sentence?

The phrase "unless indicated otherwise" is used to specify a condition that is true, except when explicitly stated differently. For instance, "All assignments are due on Friday, "unless indicated otherwise"."

What's a simpler way to say "unless indicated otherwise"?

Alternatives include phrases like "unless otherwise specified", "except when otherwise stated", or even just "if not", depending on the context.

Is it okay to use "unless indicated otherwise" in formal writing?

Yes, "unless indicated otherwise" is suitable for formal writing, especially in academic, scientific, and business contexts where clarity and precision are important. It helps establish a default condition with a clear exception.

What's the difference between "unless otherwise specified" and "unless indicated otherwise"?

While similar, "unless otherwise specified" implies a more formal or explicit specification, whereas ""unless indicated otherwise"" is a broader term that encompasses any form of indication, not just formal specifications.