# "Exception that proves the rule:" general vs. absolute rules

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exception-that-proves-the-rule-general-vs-absolute-rules/344683>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [February 15, 2006, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exception-that-proves-the-rule-general-vs-absolute-rules/344683 "2006-02-15T21:11:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exception-that-proves-the-rule-general-vs-absolute-rules/344683/21 "2006-08-25T03:08:12Z")

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[QUOTE=Panu]  
The English word “prove” used to mean “test,” which is the current meaning of the cognate German word prüfen. Adages and sayings become set phrases and often contain archaic words and meanings.

Hence: “The exception that proves the rule” means in current usage “the exception that tests the rule.”  
[/QUOTE]

If you haven’t read the subject column, read it.

If you think Cecil is wrong, we need more than your bare assertion.

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**Author:** ![stconsultant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@stconsultant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stconsultant)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exception-that-proves-the-rule-general-vs-absolute-rules/344683/22 "2006-08-25T13:14:57Z")

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Consider inductive logic rather than deductive. In inductive logic, one seeks to infer rules from evidence. If you are Newton or Einstein, and you are working in the natural sciences, you can perhaps infer a rule that explains a very great deal. For the rest of us rules are not laws. Most of us use the phrase “as a rule” when we refer to something that is often, but not always true. In this context, the phrase “the exception that proves the rule” is helpful.

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**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exception-that-proves-the-rule-general-vs-absolute-rules/344683/23 "2006-08-25T17:09:18Z")

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[QUOTE=Fear Itself]  
My argument does not hinge on the medieval meaning of the word “proof”. My argument hinges on pudding, and the eating thereof. There is nothing in the pudding; no proof, prüfen or prueba.  
[/QUOTE]  
[The Word Detective agrees with you.](http://www.word-detective.com/081100.html#proofpudding)

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**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exception-that-proves-the-rule-general-vs-absolute-rules/344683/24 "2006-08-25T18:22:33Z")

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[QUOTE=Lute Skywatcher]  
[The Word Detective agrees with you.](http://www.word-detective.com/081100.html#proofpudding)  
[/QUOTE]

As does [Micheal Quinion](http://http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-pro1.htm), but what is more disturbing is his take on the [saying](http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-exc1.htm) in question.

> [@](#):
>
> Probat means “prove” in the sense of “test,” as in “proving ground” or “the proof is in the pudding.” So “the exception proves the rule” means a close look at exceptions helps us determine a rule’s validity.

> [@](#):
>
> [Micheal Quinion](http://www.worldwidewords.org/index.htm): It has often been suggested in reference works that prove here is really being used in the sense of “test” (as it does in terms like “proving ground” or “the proof of the pudding is in the

Someone seems to be borrowing from someone.

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**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exception-that-proves-the-rule-general-vs-absolute-rules/344683/25 "2006-08-25T18:26:01Z")

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Oops, that first link should be [World Wide Words: Proof of the pudding](http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-pro1.htm)

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