Accept vs Except
Published January 27, 2023. Updated January 27, 2023.
Accept and Except might sound the same, but their meanings are almost opposite. Accept is a verb that means to receive something, to agree, or to answer with a yes. Its meanings are all positive. Except, on the other hand, means “everything but this.” It leaves out, it does not accept. Its meanings are all negative. It can be used as a preposition or a conjunction.
Here are some definitions and examples to help make the use of these words clearer.
Accept (verb)
To take or receive something, to agree, to answer positively.
Examples:
I’m sorry that I made you angry earlier. Will you accept my apology?
My young son brings me flowers from the garden, and I accept his gift lovingly.
In both examples above, the action of accept is something thing positive. Think of the A at the beginning as “A-OK”. It is saying “yes” to what is given.
Except (preposition, conjunction)
To leave out. “Everything but this.”
Examples:
I will eat any vegetable except Brussels sprouts. Yuck.
The student wanted to raise her hand; except she was too shy.
Think of the X in except as crossing something out. It’s a big NO. Vegetables, yes. Brussels sprouts, NO. The student wanted to give the answer. Did she? NO.
Main Points
- Accept means to take or receive, to agree, or to answer in a positive way.
- Except means to leave out. Think of it as “everything but this.”
- Accept has a positive meaning. Think of it as A-OK: Yes, I will receive this. Yes, I agree. Yes, that’s right.
- Except has a negative meaning. Think of it as a big X, leaving things out: No, I don’t want that. No, I don’t accept that. Everything is okay, but not that.