Accept vs Except
What’s the difference between them?
Accept
Meaning:
to take or receive (something offered).
Examples:
1. The job offer was too good to pass up, so I decided to accept it.
2. She graciously accepted the apology and moved on.
3. He accepted her decision to end the relationship without a fight.
Except
Meaning:
to take or leave out from a number or a group specified.
Examples:
1. Except for my sister, everyone in the family has blue eyes.
2. We usually go to the beach on the weekends, except when it's raining.
3. Everyone was served dinner, except for me.
Learn similar and opposite words to spot the difference
Synonyms
Antonyms
Accept
1. Agree
2. Consent
3. Endorse
4. Welcome
5. Take kindly to
1. Reject
2. Refuse
3. Deny
4. Rebut
5. Not Agree To
Except
1. Exclude
2. Omit
3. Leave Out
4. Abstain from
5. Refrain from
1. Include
2. Observe
3. Utilize
4. Embrace
5. Obey
Tricks for mastery
Useful tips to understand the difference between confusing words "Accept", "Except".
1. Think of the phrase 'accept the invitation' to help remember the meaning of 'accept'.
2. Think of the phrase 'everything except for..' to help remember the meaning of 'except'.
Practice English with the Promova app and avoid misusing confusing words
Frequently asked questions
In what situations should the first word be used?
Accept is used when something is offered to you and you choose to take it. This could include offers such as job offers, invitations, or gifts.
When is the appropriate context for using the second word?
Except is used when referring to a group or number of items but excluding one or more. For example, you could say, 'All of the students except John will attend the assembly.'
Do the two words share the same pronunciation?
No, the two words have different pronunciations. Accept is pronounced əkˈsept and except is pronounced ikˈsept.
What are some common mistakes people make when using these words?
One of the most common mistakes is to use accept when except should be used. It is easy to remember that accept has an 'a' in it and so it should be used when something is accepted, while except has an 'e' in it and should be used when excluding something from a group.
Fill in the gaps to check yourself
1. I will _____ all invitations to the party.
2. Everyone is coming to the dinner _____ Mike.
3. You need to _____ the terms and conditions before proceeding.
4. All the fruits are ripe _____ for the green apples.
5. Would you _____ this gift from me?
6. _____ for the occasional mistakes, the manuscript was well-written.
1. Accept
Explanation: The context indicates that the speaker will be receiving or agreeing to the invitations, so the verb accept is appropriate.
2. Except
Explanation: Here, the word is used to exclude or leave out Mike from the list of people coming to dinner, so except is the correct choice.
3. Accept
Explanation: In this context, the action of agreeing or consenting to the terms and conditions is implied, making accept the fitting choice.
4. Except
Explanation: The sentence mentions an exclusion of the green apples from the group of ripe fruits, so except is appropriate.
5. Accept
Explanation: The action of receiving or taking the gift is implied here, making accept the right choice.
6. Except
Explanation: The word is used to introduce an exception or exclusion to the general statement about the manuscript, so except is the correct choice.
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List of Commonly Confused Words
Finding your way around the English language can be hard, especially since there are so many confusing words and rules. So, a list of the most confusing words in English is an extremely useful tool for improving language accuracy and sharing the ideas clearly.