Accept vs Except
What's the difference?
They sound almost the same but mean nearly opposite things — one takes something in, the other leaves it out.
Quick answer
Accept means to receive or say yes. Except means to leave out. If you mean "apart from," use except.
Compared side by side
(verb) to receive something, or to agree to it.
- “I accept your offer.”
- “She accepted the award.”
- “Do you accept credit cards?”
(preposition / conjunction) not including; apart from.
- “Everyone came except Tom.”
- “It's perfect except for one thing.”
- “The shop is open every day except Sunday.”
How to remember it
except starts with 'ex-', like exclude — it leaves things out. accept is about agreeing to or taking something in.
Frequently asked
They sound the same — how do I choose?
Ask whether you mean "leave out" (except, like exclude) or "take / agree" (accept). "Everyone except me" leaves me out; "I accept" means I agree.
Can "except" be a verb?
Rarely — "to except" means to exclude ("present company excepted"). In everyday writing it's almost always the preposition meaning "apart from."