Difference Between Accept and Except: Usage Guide

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Understanding Accept

Meaning of Accept

Let’s talk about “accept” – it’s a verb, plain and simple. When you “accept” something, you’re all in for agreeing, welcoming, or giving a thumbs up to whatever’s being given or proposed to you. Whether it’s snagging a gift, nodding to a proposition, or just facing facts, it’s about going with the flow. Just think of the opposite as giving the cold shoulder or turning it down.

Basically, “accept” can mean:

  • Taking something: “She accepted the invitation.”
  • Giving approval or a nod: “They accepted the consequences.”
  • Grinning and bearing it: “He accepted the hardships without complaint.”

Examples of Accept’s Usage

Wanna see it in action? Check these sentences out for some “accept” inspiration:

Situation Sample Sentence
Taking what’s given “He decided to accept the gift graciously.”
Giving the green light “The organization will accept the terms of the agreement.”
Rolling with the punches “She had to accept the reality of the situation.”
  • “The company really wanted her to accept their job offer.”
  • “He had no choice but to accept the responsibility.”

Craving more wisdom on tricky word pairs? Dive into our pieces on accuracy vs. precision and affect vs. effect.

Understanding Except

Meaning of Except

“Except” is a handy little word in English that essentially means leaving something out, or marking it as different from the rest. “Except” works double duty as both a preposition and a conjunction. When it’s a preposition, it simply means “but” or “excluding.” As a conjunction, you’ll find it often hanging out with “that,” signaling “only” or “with the exception of.” Every now and then, “except” decides to play the verb role, meaning “to exclude” or “to object”—though this is kinda rare.

Here are some basic ways it pops up based on its different uses:

  • Preposition: Leaving something out or apart from.
  • Conjunction: Only or making an exception.

For a deeper dive into how “except” squares off against its look-alike word “accept,” check out our article on the difference between accept and except.

Examples of Except’s Usage

Let’s look at some examples that show how “except” rolls in conversation:

  • Preposition:

  • “She eats all vegetables except broccoli.” (Highlighting what doesn’t make the dish)

  • “The store is open every day except Sunday.” (Pointing out the odd day out)

  • Conjunction:

  • “He would have attended the meeting, except that he was busy.” (Explaining a reason)

  • “Everyone knew about the surprise party except that one person.” (Singling out someone not in the know)

  • Verb:

  • “They excepted him from the group rules because of his unique situation.” (acting as a rare way to exclude)

Role Example Sentence
Preposition She eats all vegetables except broccoli.
Preposition The store is open every day except Sunday.
Conjunction He would have attended the meeting, except that he was busy.
Conjunction Everyone knew about the surprise party except that one person.
Verb They excepted him from the group rules. (rarely used)

For a bunch more examples on how “except” is used, take a look at the Cambridge Dictionary.

If you feel like diving into other word confusions, you might want to peek at our articles on the difference between above and over and difference between affect and effect.

Differences in Usage

Grasping the difference between “accept” and “except” is all about nailing that clear communication. These words play different gigs, and we’re gonna break ’em down without any head-scratchers.

Different Jobs

Accept

  • What’s it mean?: To take something on, say ‘yes’ to it, or give it the thumbs-up.
  • What it acts as: This one’s a verb.
  • Where to use it: “Accept” pops up when you’re taking or agreeing on something, like a friendly nod.

Except

  • What’s it mean?: To leave something out or skip over.
  • What can it be: Dabbles as a preposition, conjunction, or sometimes even a verb.
  • Where to use it: “Except” steps in when talking about leaving things out by choice.
Role Accept Except
Meaning Say yes or take in Leave out or skip
Part of Speech Verb Preposition, conjunction, verb
Use Taking or saying yes Leaving out or skipping

Showing the Difference with Examples

Let’s check out some scenarios where “accept” and “except” make their moves.

Accept

  1. He didn’t skip a beat to accept the gig.
  2. She accepted the gift with a big smile.
  3. They happily accepted the rules.

Except

  1. Everyone’s headed to the bash except John.
  2. She’d have tagged along except for her other plans.
  3. The library hangs a “come on in” sign every day except holidays.

For peeking into how other tricky words stack up, check out our takes on advice vs. advise and affect vs. effect. Nailing these differences means you’re on the money with your words.

Remember, “accept” is for when you’re cool with taking things in, while “except” is for highlighting what’s not in the mix. Grammar buffs, dive into more head-scratchers like the difference between above and over, to crank up your word game.

Common Confusions

Mixing up “accept” and “except” is like confusing twins—you know they’re different but they kinda look and sound the same. Let’s straighten out these mix-ups and sharpen your word skills.

Common Errors

  1. Swapping Words: People often swap “accept” with “except,” leading to wacky sentences.

    • Oops: “She excepted the gift graciously.”
    • Fixed: “She accepted the gift graciously.”

  2. Mixing Parts of Speech: Using “accept” and “except” incorrectly in a sentence can get tricky.

    • Oops: “I will accept the money everyone.”
    • Fixed: “I will accept the money from everyone.”

  3. Missing Exclusion or Inclusion:

    • Oops: “He agreed to the terms accept the final clause.”
    • Fixed: “He agreed to the terms except the final clause.”

Tips for Proper Usage

  1. Know Their Roles: “Accept” means to receive or agree, while “except” is all about leaving something out. Remember these roles to stay clear.

    • Accept: You’re saying yes or taking it in.
    • Except: You’re leaving something out.

  2. Remember Verb/Preposition Roles: “Accept” is usually a verb, “except” hangs out as a preposition or conjunction. Spot their roles in sentences.

  3. Mnemonics Help: Make up silly rhymes to keep them straight. Try this: “Accept your fate, except the bad breaks.”

  4. Don’t Skip Proofreading: Always give your sentences a once-over to ensure you’re using “accept” and “except” the right way.

Examples in Context

  1. Accept:
  • “They accepted the invitation.”
  • “He accepted the terms and conditions.”
  1. Except:
  • “Everyone attended the meeting except John.”
  • “She’s done with everything except the final task.”

Grasping the difference between these two can save you from awkward misunderstandings. Curious for more tips? Check out our guide on the difference between affect and effect and the difference between advice and advise.

Practice Sentences

Fill in the Blanks

Practice using “accept” and “except” correctly with the following sentences:

  1. She was happy to ____ the award for her hard work.
  2. Everyone ____ John was invited to the party.
  3. Please ____ my apologies for the inconvenience.
  4. They will not ____ any excuses for missing the meeting.
  5. ____ for the broken leg, he was in perfect health.
Sentence Number Correct Word (Accept/Except)
1 accept
2 except
3 accept
4 accept
5 except

Test Your Understanding

  1. “I cannot ____ your behavior any longer.”
  2. “Everyone was praised for their hard work, ____ Tim.”
  3. “The committee decided to ____ the proposal.”
  4. “All the applicants ____ Lisa passed the test.”
  5. “Please ____ the terms and conditions before proceeding.”

Check your understanding by filling in the correct word:

  1. [x] Accept | [ ] Except
  2. [ ] Accept | [x] Except
  3. [x] Accept | [ ] Except
  4. [ ] Accept | [x] Except
  5. [x] Accept | [ ] Except

For extra knowledge on word usage differences, check out our articles on difference between affect and effect and difference between already and all ready.

Antonyms

Opposites of Accept

“Accept” means to agree to or receive something willingly. But what if you don’t want it? That’s where these antonyms come in:

  • Decline
  • Refuse
  • Reject
  • Disagree

To get a fuller picture, you might want to check out references like Scribbr.

Antonym Usage Example
Decline She declined the job offer without a second thought.
Refuse He flat-out refused to participate in the meeting.
Reject They rejected the proposal without batting an eye.
Disagree He disagreed strongly with the proposed changes.

Want more on how similar words differ? Peek at our page on difference between advice and advise.

Words Contrasting Except

“Except” usually means leaving something out, unlike “accept,” which is about taking in. Here’s how they stack up against each other:

  • Include
  • Embrace
  • Admit

As per Dictionary.com, “accept” is all about welcoming or approving something that’s offered.

Contrasting Word Usage Example
Include Everyone was invited to the party, including John, who they thought wouldn’t show up.
Embrace She embraced the new changes like they were old friends.
Admit He admitted everyone to the program without any exceptions.

Get even more clued in by checking out difference between affect and effect.

Grasping these opposites and contrasting words can make you a pro at avoiding mix-ups, leading to clearer writing and chatting. For more savvy word tricks, dive into our difference between already and all ready.

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