usable except for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "usable except for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is functional or acceptable with the exception of a specific issue or condition. Example: "The software is usable except for the occasional bug that needs fixing."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In Ecuador, continuous monitoring of air quality is in its infancy, population based surveillance data relevant to environmentally linked diseases are scanty, and often not usable except for descriptive purposes.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Ananda fashions a face that would be recognizable and usable for identification -- except that it wears the generic Buddha's expression of serenity.

The New York Times - Books

A part of the metabolome could be computed from the genome [ 23], but the information would be static and hardly usable in biological systems except for annotation purposes.

Genome Medicine

They trawled Biscayne Boulevard for a usable causeway for four hours.

The New Yorker

This resulted in 2,102 usable surveys for cluster analysis purposes.

AIDS and Behavior

Inadequate number of measurements was defined as <14 usable readings for daytime and <7 usable readings fro nighttime.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

"The architecture is terrifically usable for us," he said.

The New York Times

Only 554 (92.3%) responses were usable for data analyses.

BMJ Open

A total of 554 (92.3%) responses were usable for data analyses.

BMJ Open

The text is then very hardly usable for computational processing.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

One software package usable for our purpose is MEME.

Bioinformatics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "usable except for", clearly state the specific exception to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The software is usable except for its reporting feature."

Common error

Avoid using "usable except for" without specifying the exception. For example, instead of saying "The tool is usable except for a few things", be specific and say "The tool is usable except for complex data analysis."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "usable except for" serves as an adjectival modifier, indicating a conditional state of usability. It qualifies a noun by specifying circumstances under which it is not fully functional or suitable, according to Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "usable except for" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression to denote conditional usability. As Ludwig AI confirms, it accurately conveys that something is functional or suitable, barring certain specified exceptions. Its neutral register makes it suitable across diverse contexts, including scientific, journalistic and everyday communication. The best practice involves clearly stating the exception to avoid ambiguity, while the most common error lies in omitting these specific details. To add variety to your writing, consider alternatives like "functional apart from" or "serviceable barring".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

functional apart from

This alternative focuses on the functional aspect but highlights exceptions.

workable save for

Replaces "usable" with "workable" and "except" with "save", maintaining the conditional aspect.

serviceable barring

Uses "serviceable" instead of "usable" and "barring" instead of "except for", keeping the original sense.

suitable with the exception of

A more formal way of expressing the same idea, emphasizing suitability with noted exceptions.

applicable excluding

Replaces "usable" with "applicable" and "except for" with "excluding", maintaining a similar meaning.

valid excluding

Focuses on the validity but acknowledges exclusions.

effective excluding

Emphasizes effectiveness but notes exclusions.

available excluding

Indicates availability with some exceptions.

ready excluding

Focuses on readiness but acknowledges exceptions.

employable but

A simpler alternative, highlighting employability but noting a condition.

FAQs

How can I use "usable except for" in a sentence?

You can use "usable except for" to indicate that something is generally functional or applicable, but with a specific limitation. For example, "The data is "usable except for" advanced statistical analysis."

What are some alternatives to "usable except for"?

Alternatives include "functional apart from", "serviceable barring", or "suitable with the exception of", each offering a slightly different nuance.

Is "usable except for" grammatically correct?

Yes, "usable except for" is grammatically correct and commonly used to express that something is generally usable, but not in all cases or situations.

What's the difference between "usable except for" and "not usable"?

"Usable except for" implies partial functionality, while "not usable" indicates complete lack of functionality. The former suggests the item can be used in some contexts, while the latter implies it cannot be used at all.