Make Your Editor Cry: Accept vs. Except
Even though except and accept sound similar they mean very different things.
Accept is a verb that means to believe in, or to agree, or to receive something offered.
Examples:
Incorrect:
The dog likes all vegetables accept for lettuce.
Correct:
When Boris asked Natasha to accept his marriage proposal, she happily accepted.
In contrast, except means unless or excluding, or with the exception of. Except usually functions as a preposition or a conjunction.
As a preposition, except means “but” or “however.” As a conjunction, except is often followed by “that,” and means “only” or “with the exception of.” In the rare cases where except functions as a verb, it means “to exclude, to object.”
Examples:
Incorrect:
Will you except my gift?
All the classmates accept William attended the reunion.
I would believe your story accept that I know you're lying.
We can accept that video from evidence.
If you offer me chocolates I will gladly except them—accept for the brandy filled ones.
Correct:
Will you accept my gift?
All the classmates except William attended the reunion.
I would believe your story except that I know you're lying.
We can except that video from evidence.
If you offer me chocolates I will gladly accept them—except for the brandy filled ones.
Tip: The “ex” of except can help you to remember that it means excluding.
Gregg Bridgeman is the Editor-in-Chief at Olivia Kimbrell Press. He is husband to best-selling Christian author Hallee Bridgeman and parent to three. He continues to proudly serve in the US Armed Forces and has done so in either an active or reserve capacity for more than twenty years as an airborne and air assault qualified paratrooper, earning a Bronze Star for his service. Most importantly, he was ordained in October of 2001 after surrendering his life to Christ decades earlier.