We’re all familiar with the expression, “the exception that proves the rule.”  Is there, then, ever an occasion in which there might be a “rule that proves the exception”?

Going a step further, does a rule ever approve the exception?  Or can there be an exception that approves the rule? 

It is easy to conclude that an exception might disprove the rule, or at least try to.  Rule purists may insist that the rule disproves the exception, and there is no — umm – exception to this.

Yet maybe the rule-exception relationship is more complicated.  Consider these:

The exception that reproves the rule.

The rule that reproves the exception.

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This started out as just playing around with words.  It was worthwhile merely to enjoy the fun.  But at some point, I began thinking about what some of these phrases were in fact saying.  Maybe there was more to it than satire.  Join me in thinking about them, if you wish.  Or if you just want to be entertained, that’s OK, too.  No rule here.  Thus, no need for an exception.

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Let me leave you with one more pair to consider:

The rule that improves the exception.               

The exception that improves the rule.