diff --git a/docs/USAGE.md b/docs/USAGE.md
index e3be2638..8770cedb 100644
--- a/docs/USAGE.md
+++ b/docs/USAGE.md
@@ -517,12 +517,18 @@ Each line of the file represents a relative path from your `sync_dir`. All files
 Here is an example of `sync_list`:
 ```text
 # sync_list supports comments
+# 
+# The ordering of entries is highly recommended - exclusions before inclusions
+#
+# Exclude temp folders under Documents
+!Documents/temp*
+# Exclude my secret data
+!/Secret_data/*
+#
 # Include my Backup folder
 Backup
 # Include Documents folder
 Documents/
-# Exclude temp folders under Documents
-!Documents/temp*
 # Include all PDF documents
 Documents/*.pdf
 # Include this single document
@@ -542,6 +548,21 @@ The following are supported for pattern matching and exclusion rules:
 *   Use the `*` to wildcard select any characters to match for the item to be included
 *   Use either `!` or `-` characters at the start of the line to exclude an otherwise included item
 
+To simplify 'exclusions' and 'inclusions', the following is also possible:
+```text
+# sync_list supports comments
+# 
+# The ordering of entries is highly recommended - exclusions before inclusions
+#
+# Exclude temp folders under Documents
+!Documents/temp*
+# Exclude my secret data
+!/Secret_data/*
+#
+# Include everything else
+/*
+```
+
 **Note:** After changing the sync_list, you must perform a full re-synchronization by adding `--resync` to your existing command line - for example: `onedrive --synchronize --resync`
 
 **Note:** In some circumstances, it may be required to sync all the individual files within the 'sync_dir', but due to frequent name change / addition / deletion of these files, it is not desirable to constantly change the 'sync_list' file to include / exclude these files and force a resync. To assist with this, enable the following in your configuration file:
diff --git a/src/selective.d b/src/selective.d
index 6e9033cd..62a753aa 100644
--- a/src/selective.d
+++ b/src/selective.d
@@ -213,7 +213,8 @@ private bool isPathExcluded(string path, string[] allowedPaths)
 {
 	// function variables
 	bool exclude = false;
-	bool finalResult = true; // will get updated to false, if pattern matched to sync_list entry
+	bool excludeMatched = false; // will get updated to true, if there is a pattern match to sync_list entry
+	bool finalResult = true; // will get updated to false, if pattern match to sync_list entry
 	int offset;
 	string wildcard = "*";
 	
@@ -283,6 +284,7 @@ private bool isPathExcluded(string path, string[] allowedPaths)
 			} else {
 				log.vdebug("Evaluation against 'sync_list' result: direct match but to be excluded");
 				finalResult = true;
+				// do not set excludeMatched = true here, otherwise parental path also gets excluded
 			}
 		}
 		
@@ -295,6 +297,7 @@ private bool isPathExcluded(string path, string[] allowedPaths)
 			} else {
 				log.vdebug("Evaluation against 'sync_list' result: parental path match but must be excluded");
 				finalResult = true;
+				excludeMatched = true;
 			}
 		}
 		
@@ -306,11 +309,13 @@ private bool isPathExcluded(string path, string[] allowedPaths)
 			auto allowedMask = regex(regexCompatiblePath);
 			if (matchAll(path, allowedMask)) {
 				// regex wildcard evaluation matches
-				if (!exclude) {
+				// if we have a prior pattern match for an exclude, excludeMatched = true
+				if (!exclude && !excludeMatched) {
+					// nothing triggered an exclusion before evaluation against wildcard match attempt
 					log.vdebug("Evaluation against 'sync_list' result: wildcard pattern match");
 					finalResult = false;
 				} else {
-					log.vdebug("Evaluation against 'sync_list' result: wildcard pattern match but to be excluded");
+					log.vdebug("Evaluation against 'sync_list' result: wildcard pattern matched but must be excluded");
 					finalResult = true;
 				}
 			}