How to Use Accept and Except Correctly
When writing and speaking, people often use the words accept and except interchangeably and therefore incorrectly. Accept is a verb meaning "to take or receive," while except is a verb, preposition or idiom meaning "to exclude" or "excluding." The words sound and look similar, but have very different meanings. Follow the steps to learn how to use the words accept and except correctly.
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Instructions
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Use Accept Correctly
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1
Use accept when you mean to take or receive, or receive something or some invitation offered to you. "She happily accepted his wedding proposal."
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2
Use when you mean to agree or consent to. "Janie accepted Sam's apology for breaking her necklace."
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3
Use when meaning to undertake responsibility or receive meaning or understanding. "The soldier accepts his duties with the squadron and accepts that he will be away from his family for deployment."
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4
Use when meaning to consider true or to believe. "Dan accepts the claim that the Tooth Fairy exists even though his sister says otherwise."
Use Except Correctly
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Use except as a preposition to mean excluding or but. "Everyone went to the party except Jonathan."
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Use as a conjunction to mean only, or with the exception, often followed by the word "that." "The twins are identical except that one has longer hair than the other."
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Use as an idiom to mean "if it weren't for" something. "Sandra would go back to college except for lack of time and money."
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Use as a verb to mean to exclude or leave out, or to object. "Let's except that item from the list."
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