Accept vs. Except

People often confuse the words accept and except. Regardless of how similar they sound, their meanings couldn’t be more different.


To accept is a verb with several meanings: It can mean to hold something as true or right, to receive something willingly or to answer yes (oftentimes regarding invitations).


The word except is most commonly a preposition but it can also be used as a conjunction or a verb. As a preposition it means other thanapart from, not including, or excluding. The conjunction has several meanings, including only, for anything but, or unless. Very rarely it can be used as a verb meaning to exclude.


A fast and easy way to remember the difference would be Except = Exclude. The first two letters of except will remind you that it means exclude. *Thanks to Grammar-Monster.com for this “Hot Tip”.


 



Accept vs. Except