with few exceptions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "with few exceptions" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to a general statement or rule that may not apply to every single situation. For example, "Visitors are not allowed in the office building with few exceptions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

We confirmed a previously reported favourable clinical outcome in tumours with few CNAs14.

Nature

"On clique colorings of graphs with few P4's," by S. Klein and A. Morgana.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

Using the primeval decomposition technique, we will determine the clique-chromatic number of graphs with few P4's.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

As an additional internal control, measurements were also collected from the dorsomedial portion of the VMN (DM-VMN), a region with few E2-concentrating neurons.

Duke University

This is in line with Few (21), WHO (22), and IASC (23).

Global Health Action

Rating of their own risk followed a similar pattern with few (17.4%, 109/627) rating it at "very high" to "high".

BMC Infectious Diseases

In healthy donors, NK cells were mainly CD45RA cells with few CD45RAdim cells, found particularly in immature NK cell subsets.

EBioMedicine

When burned, natural gas produces energy with fewer CO2 emissions than coal.

The Guardian

Demands for long-term care facilities for the elderly increased rapidly due to longevity of the current population and a trend toward nuclear families with fewer offspring1.

International Journal of Gerontology

Removing one allele of β-catenin in Pax7 expressing progeny resulted in a significantly smaller scar size with fewer Pax7 expressing progeny cell contributing to wound repair.

Duke University

That's one of the reasons we continue to work to make it better, more fuel efficient, with fewer CO2 emissions.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "with few exceptions", ensure that the exceptions do not undermine the main point you are making. If the exceptions are numerous or significant, consider rephrasing.

Common error

Avoid using "with few exceptions" if the exceptions are substantial or frequently encountered, as this can weaken your argument and mislead the reader.

Linguistic Context

"With few exceptions" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a statement by indicating that it is generally true but not universally so. It adds a degree of nuance and precision, acknowledging potential deviations. Ludwig confirms its validity.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "with few exceptions" serves to qualify a statement, indicating that it is generally true but not universally applicable. As indicated by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and is generally acceptable in a variety of writing contexts. While the phrase does not occur in the provided examples, its usage can be inferred from its semantic components. Ludwig can assist in identifying suitable contexts and alternatives to ensure its effective use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with only a handful of exceptions

Specifies that the number of exceptions is very small.

save for a few exceptions

Uses "save for" to introduce the limited number of exceptions.

almost always

Emphasizes the high frequency of occurrence, suggesting that the statement is true in nearly all cases.

barring a few exceptions

Uses "barring" to indicate that exceptions are unlikely to invalidate the general statement.

in almost every case

Focuses on the near-universal applicability of the statement.

except in rare instances

Emphasizes the infrequency of the exceptions.

for the most part

Highlights that the statement is generally true, but acknowledges some deviations.

subject to some exceptions

Highlights that the statement is conditional and may not always apply.

by and large

Indicates that the statement is true on a broad scale, despite some minor exceptions.

generally speaking

Suggests that the statement is a generalization, with the understanding that there may be exceptions.

FAQs

How can I use "with few exceptions" in a sentence?

Use "with few exceptions" to indicate that a statement is generally true, but there are some specific cases where it does not apply. For example, "The library is open every day, "with few exceptions"."

What's a formal alternative to "with few exceptions"?

In formal writing, you could use phrases like "subject to certain limitations", "except in specific instances", or "with limited exceptions" instead of ""with few exceptions"".

What is the difference between "with few exceptions" and "with no exceptions"?

"With few exceptions" indicates that there are some cases where a statement is not true, while "with no exceptions" means the statement is always true. The former allows for some deviation, whereas the latter claims universality.

Are there synonyms for "with few exceptions" that emphasize the rarity of deviations?

Yes, you can use phrases like "almost always", "in almost every case", or "save for a few exceptions" to highlight that the deviations are infrequent.