3 ms·

The exception the proves the rule?

• addicted 4y ago
  One of the stupidest phrases vert. Almost by definition the exception disproves the rule. There’s literally no logical sense in which the exception can prove the rule unless the rule is not really a rule but more of a suggestion.
  • maoeurk 4y ago
    Yeah it's pretty much exclusively used incorrectly. The original meaning was that an exception to a rule proves that such a rule exists. For example, "no parking on Sunday" is an exception that implies that parking on any day except Sunday is okay. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exception_that_proves_the_rule https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exception_that_proves_the_rule It honestly doesn't bother me as much as when people incorrectly say "begs the question" when they mean "raises the question" but I think we're long past the point of us ever correcting any of these.
    • xxs 4y ago
      One note about parking - normally all actions (incl. parking) are allowed, unless they are explicitly forbidden. Lack of any other rules/guidance implies the parking is allowed.
      • hsbauauvhabzb 4y ago
        That’s a fairly generic statement, have you confirmed that rule to be true across every city/state/country across the globe?
  • deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]