"Pat" wrote: (clip) Explain how having numerous cities not named after
English
cities proves any rule?
^^^^^^^^^^^^
I believe the original version was, "It is the exception that PROBES the
rule. IOW, an exception forces us to examine the rule more closely. On a
sense, "proves" can be seen to have that meaning also, but it has been
widely used with the opposite meaning. I have heard it argued that, since
there cannot be an exception unless there is a rule, the exception gives the
rule validity. I don't accept that.