in all but

[lmhh]

1.(context: "Income is now more concentrated at the very top of the income spectrum than in all but six years since the mid-1930s," asserts Mr. Shapiro in his report.)

What does "in all but six years" mean? Is "in all but" a fixed phrase?


2.(context: By contrast, the middle fifth of the population saw its share of national after-tax income fall over that same period of time, from 16.5 to 15.8. )

Does "the middle fifth of the population" mean "the one fifth of the pupulation which are in the middle part of the income scale"? Can "the fifth" also mean "one fifth"?

[MikeNewYork]

1.(context: "Income is now more concentrated at the very top of the income spectrum than in all but six years since the mid-1930s," asserts Mr. Shapiro in his report.)

What does "in all but six years" mean? Is "in all but" a fixed phrase?


2.(context: By contrast, the middle fifth of the population saw its share of national after-tax income fall over that same period of time, from 16.5 to 15.8. )

Does "the middle fifth of the population" mean "the one fifth of the pupulation which are in the middle part of the income scale"? Can "the fifth" also mean "one fifth"?

"All but" is used to create exceptions for part of a whole. Depending on when that sentence was written, there have been 70 years since the mid-30s. The phenomenon mentioned happened in every year except 6 of those years.

You are correct about middle fifth; one fifth would also be correct.