Accept vs except
Accept is a verb that means to take something offered or to agree to it. Except usually means not including, as in everyone except me.
EXcept and EXclude both start with ex, and both leave something out.
accept verb
To take something that is offered, or to agree to something such as a plan or a request.
- She was happy to accept the job offer.
- Both sides accepted the terms of the deal.
except preposition
Not including. It comes before the person or thing, or the people or things, left out of what you just said.
- Everyone came to the party except Tom.
- The shop is open every day except Sunday.
Watch out
- Except can also be a formal verb, often in the passive (be excepted), meaning to leave someone or something out of a rule. Do not mix up excepted (left out) with accepted.The treaty excepts certain border regions from the disarmament terms.
- Except can also start a longer part of a sentence, often as except that, to add a fact that does not fit what came before.The plan was perfect, except that no one had checked the weather.
- Accept and except sound very alike. In careful speech only the first vowel differs, but in quick speech many people say them the same way, so go by the meaning.
Test yourself
I am happy to blank your invitation.
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accept. You are taking an invitation that was offered, so you need the verb accept.
Everyone passed the test blank Maria.
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except. Maria is left out of everyone, so except fits.
The workers voted to blank the new contract.
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accept. They agreed to the contract they were offered, so you need the verb accept.
The museum is open every day blank Monday.
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except. Monday is the one day not included, so use except.