Accept vs Except: What's the Difference?
What's the Difference?
The word "accept" means 'to agree to receive or do something,' while "except" is used to mean 'excluding' or 'not including.
Memory Tip: accept = agree, except = exclude
accept starts with /ək/, except starts with /ɪk/
accept /əkˈsɛpt/
verbTo agree to take or receive something offered.
Example:
I accept your invitation to the party on Saturday.
Common patterns:
accept an invitation
accept help
except
conjunction"Except" is used to show that something is not included in a statement.
Example:
Everyone is going to the party except me because I have to study.
Common patterns:
except for
everyone except
except that
except /ɪkˈsɛpt/
prepositionNot including; other than.
Example:
Everyone is going to the party except me because I have to study.
Common patterns:
except for
except that
Common Mistakes
I will except the invitation to the party.
I will accept the invitation to the party.
"Accept" is correct because it means agreeing to receive the invitation.
Everyone is invited to the meeting accept John.
Everyone is invited to the meeting except John.
"Except" is correct because it indicates that John is excluded.
Quick Practice
0/3 correct1. I ____ your invitation to the party on Saturday.
2. Everyone is going to the party ____ me because I have to study.
3. Everyone is going to the party ____ me because I have to study.
Other Confusing Words
Never confuse accept / except again
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