usually but with exceptions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "usually but with exceptions" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a general rule or pattern applies, but there are specific cases that do not follow that rule. Example: "Most birds can fly, usually but with exceptions, such as ostriches and penguins."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Dobutamine usually, but not without exception, increases splanchnic perfusion [ 40- 42].

Critical Care

They are usually (with some exceptions) slow-moving and tentative, ironically enough (see Kodak and Lotus).

HuffPost

Patient and health profession reports suggested patient adherence to action plans was usually high, with some exceptions.

BMC Health Services Research

The C-banding and DAPI patterns were usually congruent with the exceptions observed in N. ruppelli and S. bolavenensis, where also some CMA3-positive (CMA3+) regions (NOR-associated) were slightly positively heteropycnotic after C-banding at the same time (Fig.  4c; Additional file 2: Figure S1L).

BMC Evolutionary Biology

The search for sex-specific genetic markers has not met with much success because, unlike mammals and birds, fishes have relatively young sex chromosomes that are not usually heteromorphic [ 24– 28] with exceptions including some species of salmonids [ 29, 30], stickleback fishes [ 31], glass knife fishes [ 32], and half-smooth tongue sole, Cynoglossus semilaevis [ 33].

Biology of Sex Differences

In others, courses are grouped primarily by subject matter, with the result that the number of a course (usually with the exception of the 400 range) bears no particular relation to its level of difficulty.

Yale University

Although the process may be messy, our science community reaches a decision, puts together missions to go get the information, and usually (with some costly exceptions) proceeds directly to getting its results.

Huffington Post

Usually (with the exception of the Standard) the "more dash, less cash" line leaves me sceptical.

The Guardian - Travel

As hunters, birds behave very differently from mammals, relying on their powerful vision to find prey, and thus they usually (with the exception of owls) hunt by day.

Wikipedia

The main source of rationalization for why he should want to die actually comes from other people who are usually (with one exception of a guy on a message board) not disabled themselves going on about how if "they were like that, they'd want to die, too".

Huffington Post

Despite the large potential of adverse impact, the dynamic actions as wind and earthquakes, are not usually addressed in detail with exception of special cases.

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "usually but with exceptions", ensure the exceptions are clearly defined or understood within the context to avoid ambiguity. This provides clarity and prevents misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "usually but with exceptions" without providing any indication of what those exceptions might be. This can weaken your statement and make it less informative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "usually but with exceptions" functions as a qualifier, modifying a statement to indicate that it is generally true but not universally applicable. It acknowledges the existence of deviations from the norm. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "usually but with exceptions" is a qualifier used to indicate a general truth with notable deviations. Grammatically sound, it serves to add nuance and precision to statements across neutral to formal registers. Ludwig AI confirms this. Though not extremely frequent, its role is to acknowledge complexities and prevent overgeneralizations. Alternatives include "generally with some exceptions" or "typically with a few exceptions". When employing this phrase, it's crucial to clarify the exceptions to ensure clarity and avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

generally with some exceptions

Changes "usually" to "generally", offering a slightly broader scope while maintaining the core meaning.

typically with a few exceptions

Substitutes "usually" with "typically" and "some" with "a few", keeping the meaning virtually identical.

mostly with occasional exceptions

Replaces "usually" with "mostly", highlighting the prevalence, and uses "occasional" for less frequent deviations.

in most cases with exceptions

Emphasizes that the statement holds true in the majority of instances, acknowledging exceptions.

ordinarily with certain exceptions

Uses "ordinarily" to convey the usual state, specifying that there are "certain" exceptions.

as a rule with some exceptions

Presents the statement as a general rule, allowing for deviations in specific cases.

for the most part with exceptions

Highlights that the statement is true for the largest portion, while still admitting exceptions.

commonly with occasional deviations

Focuses on the common occurrence while indicating that deviations sometimes happen.

more often than not with exceptions

Indicates a higher likelihood of the statement being true, but not always.

frequently with infrequent exceptions

Highlights the frequency of the statement's truth while minimizing the importance of exceptions.

FAQs

How can I use "usually but with exceptions" in a sentence?

You can use "usually but with exceptions" to introduce a general statement that has notable deviations. For example, "The weather is sunny, "usually but with exceptions" in the late afternoon".

What are some alternatives to "usually but with exceptions"?

Alternatives include phrases like "generally with some exceptions", "typically with a few exceptions", or "mostly with occasional exceptions", depending on the desired nuance.

Is there a more formal way to say "usually but with exceptions"?

Yes, phrases like "ordinarily with certain exceptions" or "in most cases with exceptions" offer a more formal tone.

When is it better to list the exceptions rather than using "usually but with exceptions"?

If the exceptions are few and well-defined, it is often clearer to list them explicitly. This avoids ambiguity and provides more precise information than using a general disclaimer like ""usually but with exceptions"".