Ever found yourself second-guessing whether to use “accept” or “except“? You’re not alone!
Like many commonly confused words in English, these two sound similar but have completely different meanings.
Let’s clear up the confusion once and for all.
- Accept (verb) means to receive, agree to, or take something that’s offered. When you accept a gift, take a job offer, or agree to an invitation, you’re using “accept.”
- Except (preposition or conjunction) means to exclude or leave out something from a group. When you say “I like all fruits except bananas” or “everyone went to the party except Tim,” you’re using “except.”
Think of it this way: Accept brings things in, while except keeps things out.
Simple, right?
Let’s dive deeper into how to use each word correctly.
When to use accept
Use “accept” when you want to express:
- Receiving something willingly: “I accept your apology”
- Agreeing to an offer: “She accepted the job promotion”
- Acknowledging a fact: “We must accept that change is inevitable”
- Processing a payment: “This store accepts credit cards”
When to use except
Use “except” when you want to:
- Exclude something: “Everyone except Sarah went skiing”
- Make an exception: “The store is open daily except Sundays”
- Show differences: “The twins look identical except for their hair color”
- List exclusions: “Pets are welcome except reptiles”
Examples of accept vs. except
Accept Examples:
- “I gratefully accept this award on behalf of my team.”
- “The vending machine accepts only coins and small bills.”
- “She couldn’t accept the fact that she didn’t get the role.”
- “We accept returns within 30 days of purchase.”
- “Most universities accept applications until December 1st.”
Except Examples:
- “I love all vegetables except Brussels sprouts.”
- “The library is open every day except holidays.”
- “Everyone passed the test except James and Sarah.”
- “The package includes everything except batteries.”
- “All seats are taken except the one in the corner.”
Quick Tip: Notice how accept is always about receiving or agreeing to something, while except always indicates exclusion or leaving something out.
Memory Aid:
- Accept starts with ‘A’ – think “Actively taking something”
- Except starts with ‘E’ – think “Excluding something”
These examples show how different these words are in meaning and usage, even though they sound similar!
Using Both Accept and Except in Same Sentence
Yes, you can use both words in one sentence!
This creates interesting contrasts:
- “I accept all feedback except criticism.” (Though not a great attitude!)
- “The restaurant accepts all credit cards except American Express.”
- “She accepted everyone’s help except her brother’s.”
These examples show how the words work together – “accept” includes while “except” excludes, creating clear and precise meaning.
Frequently Asked Questions About Accept vs. Except
What is the difference between accept and except?
Accept means to receive or agree to something, while except means to exclude or leave something out. Think of accept as letting something in (like accepting a gift) and except as keeping something out (like “everyone except Bob”).
Is it accept or except my apology?
It’s always “accept my apology.” You’re asking someone to receive your apology, not exclude it! Remember: When you’re apologizing, you want the person to take in (accept) your words, not leave them out (except).
Where do we use except?
Use except when you want to:
- Show exclusions (“All days except Monday”)
- Make exceptions (“Everyone except the winner pays”)
- Point out differences (“The cars are identical except for their color”)
- Create limitations (“No food except water allowed”)
What is the difference between accept and expect?
This is another common confusion!
- Accept = to receive or agree to something
- Expect = to anticipate or look forward to something
Example: “I expect to graduate in June, and I hope they’ll accept me into graduate school.”
