Example sentences of "if it were not for " in BNC.
Next page| No | Sentence |
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| 1 | If it were not for Section 8 of the Contempt of Court Act , we might be able to make reforms more rationally on the basis of , at least , a minimal sample of the recorded deliberations of informed and unidentified jurors . |
| 2 | The clumsiness is evident in the standard of ‘ the reasonable man ’ , an anthropomorphic ( and male ) standard which might be taken to suggest a paragon of virtue if it were not for the context of partially exculpating a killing by such a person . |
| 3 | If it were not for the fact that he was one of the favourites you 'd have been delighted but as a Gold Cup winner I had to feel a bit disappointed . |
| 4 | If it were not for the debilitating character question , Clinton would surely have a fair chance of beating Bush . |
| 5 | I am inclined to back Alexander 's argument that grouping would occur in most predated species if it were not for additional factors dispersing the individuals in relation to their food supply . |
| 6 | This would be a useful feature if it were not for the fact that a certain amount of vaginal discharge is perfectly normal and natural for a woman in her reproductive years ; and what is more , this natural discharge is subject to a fair amount of variation depending on the stage of the menstrual cycle . |
| 7 | This would not matter very much ( for it would always be possible for individual candidates to prove the expectation wrong ) , if it were not for the fact that whole papers in the final examination , or certain questions on papers , are to be ‘ differentiated ’ . |
| 8 | At the western outskirts of the town is the Bliss Valley Tweed Mill , an imposing stone-built factory which , if it were not for its chimney rising from a domed tower , would look like a great country mansion . |
| 9 | If it were not for the hollow bones the 30-ton creature would have required inordinate amounts of energy , and thus more food , to move around . |
| 10 | Yet if it were not for the eclipses of May , June and November , Pisceans might think they could get off comparatively lightly . |
| 11 | ‘ We will open on Friday , Saturday and Sunday throughout the summit with a big display showing the prices that would be charged if it were not for the Common Agricultural Policy , ’ says a spokesman . |
| 12 | Ironically , the Great War would not have been the war that it was if it were not for the machine . |
| 13 | ‘ requiring a seat belt ’ Means per regulation 6 of the Motor Vehicles ( wearing of Seat Belts ) Regulation 1982 : ‘ The classes of vehicle mentioned in regulation 4 are ( a ) a vehicle to which Regulation 46 of the Construction and Use Regulations applies ( see later ) ; and ( b ) a vehicle which is equipped with anchorage points and seat belts and to which that Regulation would apply if it were not for the circumstances that the vehicle — |
| 14 | Compaq Computer Corp 's first quarter earnings were better than the highest of Wall Street estimates and some analysts said that if it were not for a negative impact from currency translations , profits would have been a bit higher still . |
| 15 | From what has been said above , it will be clear that the Oxford English Dictionary Department would not be what it is , if it were not for the Supplement project lying at the heart of its work . |
| 16 | The mammoth catalogue raisonné of Magritte 's work would almost certainly not have come into existence if it were not for John ( d. 1973 ) and Dominique de Menil . |
| 17 | This death of Solomon reissues would be understandable if it were not for treatment given by EMI to other pianists . |
| 18 | Even so , as Arnold Freeman argued in Boy Life and Labour ( 1914 ) if it were not for the admittedly frail system of compulsory schooling , ‘ we should be manufacturing a race of hooligans who would make our existing civilisation an impossibility ’ . |
| 19 | But why ( if it were not for the fact that one is a Christian ) should one be wanting to stay with the experience of women within the biblical tradition ? |
| 20 | He did not enjoy such visits now , and would have been tempted to abandon them if it were not for the fact that people might gossip . |
| 21 | If it were not for the scenes written after his marriage , The Elder Statesman would have been by far the grimmest play he had ever written . |
| 22 | He also remarked , significantly : If it were not for the Union , I venture to think that women would be all over the London trade . |
| 23 | He would have laughed if it were not for the echo of the screaming in his head . |
| 24 | And in this case it seems likely that even if it were not for the depressed state of aggregate demand in the British market , the commodities produced by Talbot at Linwood would not have generated ‘ sufficient ’ profit for Peugeot . |
| 25 | First , that the conditions I have described constituted a substantial interference with the residents ' enjoyment of their property up to June 1990 ; second , that enough residents were affected to constitute a public nuisance if it were not for his other defences . |
| 26 | Well , Mrs. Jewkes , if it were not for the thought of that cursed parson I believe in my heart , so great is my weakness , that I could yet forgive this intriguing little slut and take her to my bosom . |
| 27 | If it were not for such giving the burden on the formal services and on tax payers would be far greater . |
| 28 | It is rather unexpectedly glutinous and flabby to the touch — all-in-all rather unpleasant , if it were not for the splash of vivid yellow it gives to an otherwise sombre winter hedgerow . |
| 29 | More straightforward were the comments recorded by Leonora Eyles of women in the early 1920s who declared that they would not mind married life so much if it were not for bedtime , or the anecdote related by a birth control pioneer to a 1930 conference on the provision of birth control information by public health authorities : |
| 30 | Not only does the 24-hour delivery time achieved week in week out put most publishers to shame , but if it were not for their buyers ' notes and regular representative visits , we as a small bookshop all too often ignored by publishers — The Bookseller apart , whose efforts are also appreciated — would not be made aware of new titles and promotions . |