"The Exception Proves The Rule"

[Dr T Non-Fan]

Inspired by this:

Originally Posted by DoctorNo

I hate that mis-phrase; it doesn't mean anything.

The correct phrase, which is very rarely used any longer, is "The exception probes the rule." As in, it tests the rule.

Makes more sense, doesn't it?

I hate this phrase being misused also.
It doesn't mean that it's OK for an exception to exist. It means that exceptions will be handled according to the rule.

It also shouldn't be used against facts or opinions. It's about rules, and what to do with those that break them.

Another opinion on this phrase, found after I wrote the above sentence:

exception proves the rule, the
This is often used to mean that the exception confirms the rule. However, prove in this case means 'test'; the fact that there is an exception implies that the rule may not be valid, or may need some modification. The phrase is perhaps most often used as a more or less meaningless reply to an inconvenient fact: 'You're always late'. 'I was early this morning'. 'Ah, but the exception proves the rule!'.