Erikoistapauksissa

Erikoistapauksissa is a Finnish expression meaning “in exceptional cases.” It is the locative plural form of erikoistapaus, a compound of erikois- “special” and tapaus “case” or “instance.” The singular locative form is erikoistapauksessa, and the plural nominative is erikoistapaukset. The term is used to mark a deviation from a general rule or practice.

Etymology and grammar: The word combines the prefix erikois- with tapaus and is declined like other Finnish nouns of the -us/-us-based stem. In everyday and formal Finnish, erikoistapauksissa signals that a statement or procedure applies only in particular, nonstandard situations.

Usage and contexts: Erikoistapauksissa is common in legal, administrative, and technical texts, as well as in guidelines and explanatory writing. It introduces exceptions to a general rule, often guiding what to do when standard procedures do not apply. It can appear mid-sentence or as a frame for a clause describing discretionary actions.

Example sentences:

- Yleinen sääntö on, että dokumentit toimitetaan sähköisesti; erikoistapauksissa voidaan hyväksyä myös paperiversio.

- Erikoistapauksissa järjestelmä voidaan käynnistää manuaalisesti.

Relation to related terms: The base noun erikoistapaus means a “special case” or “exception.” The phrase erikoistapauksissa contrasts with terms like yleinen käytäntö (general practice) or normaalitilanteessa (in normal situation).

Overall, erikoistapauksissa is a compact, neutral way to acknowledge exceptions within Finnish prose, ensuring clarity about when general guidance does not fully apply.