Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993.
unexceptionable, unexceptional (adjs.)
Unexceptionable means “correct, without blemish or flaw,” as in His manners were unexceptionable, and not a fault could be found with his behavior; sometimes it also means “merely correct,” as in The dinner was unexceptionable, but not very interesting. Unexceptional has that same rather dull meaning, “ordinary, not worth comment,” as in His term of office was unexceptional; nothing unusual set it apart. The distinction between unexceptionable as “without blemish” and unexceptional as “wholly unremarkable” is worth keeping. See EXCEPTIONABLE.
