Exceptions that prove the rule?

[phil87]

Does anyone know any exceptions that prove the rule? Surely its not possible...My friend uses the phrase all the time, very annoying

 

[Rik Meleet]

I'm very strict in this. If there are exceptions, the rule doesn't exist.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Im not even sure I understand what the phrase means.

 

[IglooDame]

I before E except after C.

Dunno what that proves, though.

 

[Mise]

I before E except after C.

When the sound is E.

I'm very strict in this. If there are exceptions, the rule doesn't exist.

I can't think of a rule which has no exceptions.

 

[Illustrious]

Im not even sure I understand what the phrase means.

Not what everybody thinks, in fact.

The word "prove", in this phrase, doesn't mean "show to be true" (the usual modern meaning of the word). Instead, it's an old usage of the word, derived from the latin probare and meaning "to test or evaluate". It is parallel to words such as "proof" (used in the alcohol and gunsmithing industries) and "probe" (used in the medical and scientific fields).

So, the phrase "the exception proves the rule" means that it is exceptions which test a principle and limit its universality.

For example, if someone expounded the rule that "all cats are grey", I could prove (i.e. test) that principle by producing an orange cat, and thereby show that the rule was not universal.

 

[IglooDame]

When the sound is E.


I can't think of a rule which has no exceptions.

How about "All rules have exceptions."

Except that one... Doh!!

 

[Dr Jimbo]

There are two ways of interpreting this.
1 Exceptions prove to be the rule, or seem to be, making the rule worthless.
Take the 'i before e, except after c' is supposed to help you spell words like belief, receive, and so on. It fails to give the correct spelling for many common words, like science and neighbour. The exceptions are common and numerous enough that it seems like the exceptions are the norm - the exceptions prove to be the rule - the exception proves the rule.

2 The exception, by being so extreme, shows the usefuleness of the rule.
Take 'nothing can go faster than light'
There are experiments where you can extract information from one of two quantum-entangled, particles heading in opposite directions at close to the speed of light that allows you to deduce information about one in a way that violates this rule. But the exception is so convoluted and esoteric that it just shows how useful the succinct rule is that 'nothing can go faster than light'

Or at least that's my take on it all.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Not what everybody thinks, in fact.

The word "prove", in this phrase, doesn't mean "show to be true" (the usual modern meaning of the word). Instead, it's an old usage of the word, derived from the latin probare and meaning "to test or evaluate". It is parallel to words such as "proof" (used in the alcohol and gunsmithing industries) and "probe" (used in the medical and scientific fields).

So, the phrase "the exception proves the rule" means that it is exceptions which test a principle and limit its universality.

For example, if someone expounded the rule that "all cats are grey", I could prove (i.e. test) that principle by producing an orange cat, and thereby show that the rule was not universal.

Ahhhh, yes, I get it now. An excellent explanation, thanks

 

[Rik Meleet]

We have the same expression in Dutch; "De uitzondering die de regel bevestigt". Translated it means "the exception which confirms the rule". This meaning of "bevestigen" is much closer to prove as in "show to be true" and not so close to "test or evaluate".

A different meaning of "bevestigen" is "to connect", which also isn't close to "test or evaluate".

 

[shadowdude]

I before E except after C.

If thats true isn't science spelled incorrectly?

 

[nonconformist]

Technically a rule is true in all circumstances, so a rule would either have to take ths into account

so not "I before E except after C", but
"I before E except after C, excepting Science, neighbour, weird, etc. etc." forming a silly rule.
Technically it is not a rule, but a theory or hypothesis.

 

[Mise]

It's I before E except after C when the sound is E !!!!!

And this has exceptions too. Though I actually can't think of any right now!

EDIT: Thought of one -- phenolphthalein.

 

[Hitro]

We have the same expression in Dutch; "De uitzondering die de regel bevestigt". Translated it means "the exception which confirms the rule". This meaning of "bevestigen" is much closer to prove as in "show to be true" and not so close to "test or evaluate".

A different meaning of "bevestigen" is "to connect", which also isn't close to "test or evaluate".

The German equivalent also means "the exception confirms the rule", not "proves", which makes more sense.

It basically means what Dr Jimbo said, "the exception, by being so extreme, shows the usefuleness of the rule".

It is obviously not a completely serious remark but it has its merits if you think about statistics.

 

[Plotinus]

Illustrious is exactly right. "Prove" means "test".