exceptional cases vs the exceptional cases

[White Hat]

"Most of the bouts went the distance. Exceptional cases included FIGHTER X VS FIGHTER Y and FIGHTER A VS FIGHTER B."

Is 'exceptional cases included' or 'the exceptional cases included' correct here?

 

[Barque]

It's correct as it is. You can read it as [There were] Exceptional cases [which] included... if that makes it easier.

Adding "the" wouldn't make it ungrammatical however, but it isn't necessary.

Please tell us your source.

I think "Exceptions" would have been a better choice than "Exceptional cases" (if I've understood what the writer meant correctly). "Exceptional" can refer to an exception but it's more often used to mean "out of the ordinary".

 

[White Hat]

I appreciate it, Barque. I ran into this in a piece of writing I was translating into English. I think I'll go with 'there were exceptional cases that included'. Can I use 'that' instead of 'which' here?

 

[Barque]

Can I use 'that' instead of 'which' here?

Yes.

I think I'll go with 'there were exceptional cases that included'.

All right. I'd like to clarify that I didn't mean this is a better way of writing it. I just used it to explain the structure.

 

[White Hat]

OK. Will it be OK to say 'There were exceptional cases, which included'? Can I place a comma before 'which' here? Or should I just say 'Exceptional cases included'? The meaning is the same, isn't it?

 

[Barque]

The comma is optional. Using one would put the focus more on the first clause.

Or should I just say 'Exceptional cases included'?

You could use either.

The meaning is the same, isn't it?

Yes.

 

[Tarheel]

OK. Would it be OK to say 'There were exceptional cases, which included'? Can I place a comma before 'which' here? Or should I just say 'Exceptional cases included'? The meaning is the same, isn't it?