Re:What's the matter with PGP?
by gecko on Thursday August 14, 2014 @07:54AM
(#8177008)
That's also wrong. The expression uses an archaic transitive "prove," which means "to test." Thus, "the exception tests the rule," which makes more sense.
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Do you have a source for that?
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exception_that_proves_the_rule
"The exception [that] proves the rule" means that the presence of an exception applying to a specific case establishes ("proves") that a general rule exists. For example, a sign that says "parking prohibited on Sundays" (the exception) "proves" that parking is allowed on the other six days of the week (the rule). A more explicit phrasing might be "The exception that proves the existence of the rule."