Table of Contents
Accept receives.
Except something or someone.




Except
- excludes something or someone
- used as a verb, but not common
- used as a conjunction combining two independent clauses, similar to “unless”
- used as a preposition which leaves someone or something out
- Put a big “X” over what follows
- comma before?
- the key is whether or not the “except” changes the meaning of the sentence
- if the sentence meaning is changed, then no comma
- if the “except” phrase is explanatory, then a comma is needed
- the key is whether or not the “except” changes the meaning of the sentence
I checked with CMOS and AP. Neither gave a rule for a comma before “except.” However, CMOS used it in sentences with no comma. AP used it both ways. I checked several dictionary sites and found mostly sentence examples that did not use commas.
My take on whether or not it changes the meaning of a sentence is that most of the time it would. In the situation “all … except …,” the “except” means “not all.”
Accept
- a verb, the action of receiving
- its noun is “acceptance”
The meanings and uses of “except” and “accept” are different.
Examples:
- The cows were all black and white except the new one, who was brown and white.
- (“except” [preposition] notices the different in color)
- Since cows are supposed to be color blind, they accepted her as an equal.
- (“accepted” [verb] = took her as a friend like the others)
- All the players on the team were boy except for the kicker, a girl.
- (“except” [preposition] tells us that “all” is not the case)
- When she kicked the winning field goal, even the reluctant boys accepted her.
- (“accepted” [verb] = considered her to be one of them)
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