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Notes -
The exception proves the rule (where proves means something closer to imply) is a useful linguistic short hand for understanding situations in which the existence of an exception implies the existence of a rule to which there is an exception.
First, I don't think your hypothetical is how this phrase is normally used. The parent example in this thread which is almost a perfect match for every example I have ever caught in the wild is literally, I think people be this way but some people are not, so maybe I am correct and people are actually this way. The added 'authority' of the aphorism is being grossly abused.
In your hypothetical, the exception still does not seem to 'prove' the rule. The rule in your hypothetical is, You can't turn in papers past the deadline. The exception is, some kid was allowed to turn in papers past the deadline. This exception explicitly disproves the rule. You can change the rule to include, without a very good reason, and then Tim at least serves as a data point about the kinds of good reasons that the rule would accept/reject. Still to me, the rule is clearly being 'proven' by the smuggled in NotTims who did not get an extension for their various lesser reasons. Basically your hypothetical is, most evidence seems to prove the rule, and while Tim is an exception, Tim is such an outlier he should not be considered as evidence against the general rule. To phrase that as, "He's the exception that proves the rule." seems both confused and wrong. At best he is the exception that fails to disprove the rule.
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