Table of Contents
“Accept” is a verb.
“Except” is a preposition.
Accept
“Accept” is a verb, an action, a receiving.
Except
- as a preposition leaves someone or something out. Put a big “X” over what follows.
- *comma before it only if leaving out the phrase keeps the meaning of the sentence the same
- can also be a verb, but not commonly
- sometimes functions as a conjunction between two main clauses
- not a FANBOYS, so no comma before it when combining clauses
*Let me try to explain. A comma is used before an explanatory phrase, one that would not affect the meaning of the sentence if it were left out. In the sentence “Tomasina, who kicked the field goal, went home happy,” “who kicked the field goal” is explanatory. The sentence doesn’t need to tell us what she did, only that she went home happy. Does “except …” change the meaning of “all” in the sentence “All the players were boys except Tomasina”? It does, so no comma before “except.”
Examples:
- Everyone except (X) the teacher accepted the mouse in her drawer as funny.
- (“except” = preposition, not including; “accepted” = verb, considered)
- The club will accept all new students, except (X) for Martians.
- (“accept” = verb, allowed to enter; “except” = preposition, not including)
Credits: Photo by Sarah Ardin, Photo by Eric Prouzet on Unsplash
