Accept vs. Except: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on January 16, 2024
Accept is to receive or agree to something. Except is to exclude or leave out something.
Key Differences
Accept is a verb that means to receive something willingly or to agree to something. Except is a preposition or a conjunction that means excluding or with the exclusion of something. Both words are often confused due to their similar pronunciation, but they serve different grammatical functions.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 16, 2024
When you accept an offer, you are agreeing to it. When you use except, you are specifying something that is not included. While accept is about inclusion, agreement, or acknowledgment, except is about exclusion or omission.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 16, 2024
In a sentence, accept can show consent or reception ("I accept your apology"), whereas except indicates an exclusion ("Everyone went to the party except John"). Accept expresses a positive action, while except is used to form a contrast or exception.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 16, 2024
Accept is often used in contexts where approval, reception, or agreement is involved. Except is used to differentiate or exclude certain elements from a group or category. Both words, though sounding similar, have distinct meanings and uses in English grammar.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 16, 2024
Accept can also mean to believe or recognize something as true. Except, on the other hand, is used to single out one or more elements that are not part of a general statement. Understanding the difference between these two words is crucial for clear and accurate communication.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 16, 2024
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Comparison Chart
Example in Questions
"Do you accept the terms?"
"Who is going except Alice?"
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 16, 2024
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Accept and Except Definitions
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Except
To specify something as not included
The store is open every day except holidays.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 07, 2024
Accept
To receive (something offered), especially with gladness or approval
Accepted a glass of water.
Accepted their contract.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Except
If it were not for the fact that; only. Often used with that
I would buy the suit, except that it costs too much.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Accept
To admit to a group, organization, or place
Accepted me as a new member of the club.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Accept
To regard as proper, usual, or right
Such customs are widely accepted.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Except
(Archaic) Unless
"And ne'er throughout the year to church thou go'st / Except it be to pray against thy foes" (Shakespeare).
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Accept
To regard as true; believe in
Scientists have accepted the new theory.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Except
To leave out; exclude
An admission fee is charged, but children are excepted.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Accept
To be able to hold (something applied or inserted)
This wood will not accept oil paints.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Except
(intransitive) To take exception, to object (to or against).
To except to a witness or his testimony
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Except
With the exception of; but.
There was nothing in the cupboard except a tin of beans.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Except
With the exception (that); used to introduce a clause, phrase or adverb forming an exception or qualification to something previously stated.
You look a bit like my sister, except she has longer hair.
I never made fun of her except teasingly.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Except
(archaic) Unless; used to introduce a hypothetical case in which an exception may exist.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Accept
(Medicine) To receive (a transplanted organ or tissue) without immunological rejection.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Except
To take or leave out (anything) from a number or a whole as not belonging to it; to exclude; to omit.
Who never touchedThe excepted tree.
Wherein (if we only except the unfitness of the judge) all other things concurred.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Accept
(transitive) To receive, especially with a consent, with favour, or with approval.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Except
To take exception; to object; - usually followed by to, sometimes by against; as, to except to a witness or his testimony.
Except thou wilt except against my love.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Accept
(transitive) To admit to a place or a group.
The Boy Scouts were going to accept him as a member.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Except
With exclusion of; leaving or left out; excepting.
God and his Son except,Created thing naught valued he nor . . . shunned.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Accept
(transitive) To regard as proper, usual, true, or to believe in.
I accept the notion that Christ lived.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Except
Unless; if it be not so that.
And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
But yesterday you never opened lip,Except, indeed, to drink.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Accept
(transitive) To receive or admit to; to agree to; to assent to; to submit to.
I accept your proposal, amendment, or excuse.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Except
Prevent from being included or considered or accepted;
The bad results were excluded from the report
Leave off the top piece
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Accept
(transitive) To acknowledge patiently without opposition or resistance.
We need to accept the fact that restaurants are closed due to COVID-19 and that no amount of wishing or screaming will make them reopen any sooner.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Accept
(transitive) To receive officially.
To accept the report of a committee
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Accept
To receive with a consenting mind (something offered); as, to accept a gift; - often followed by of.
If you accept them, then their worth is great.
To accept of ransom for my son.
She accepted of a treat.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Accept
To receive with favor; to approve.
The Lord accept thy burnt sacrifice.
Peradventure he will accept of me.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Accept
To receive or admit and agree to; to assent to; as, I accept your proposal, amendment, or excuse.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Accept
To take by the mind; to understand; as, How are these words to be accepted?
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Accept
To receive as obligatory and promise to pay; as, to accept a bill of exchange.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Accept
In a deliberate body, to receive in acquittance of a duty imposed; as, to accept the report of a committee. [This makes it the property of the body, and the question is then on its adoption.]
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Accept
Consider or hold as true;
I cannot accept the dogma of this church
Accept an argument
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Accept
Receive willingly something given or offered;
The only girl who would have him was the miller's daughter
I won't have this dog in my house!
Please accept my present
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Accept
Give an affirmative reply to; respond favorably to;
I cannot accept your invitation
I go for this resolution
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Accept
React favorably to; consider right and proper;
People did not accept atonal music at that time
We accept the idea of universal health care
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Accept
Admit into a group or community;
Accept students for graduate study
We'll have to vote on whether or not to admit a new member
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Accept
Take on as one's own the expenses or debts of another person;
I'll accept the charges
She agreed to bear the responsibility
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Accept
Tolerate or accommodate oneself to;
I shall have to accept these unpleasant working conditions
I swallowed the insult
She has learned to live with her husband's little idiosyncracies
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Accept
Of a deliberative body: receive (a report) officially, as from a committee
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Accept
Make use of or accept for some purpose;
Take a risk
Take an opportunity
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Accept
Be sexually responsive to, used of a female domesticated mammal;
The cow accepted the bull
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Repeatedly Asked Queries
How do you use accept in a sentence?
"I accept your invitation to the wedding."
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 16, 2024
Can accept and except be used interchangeably?
No, they have different meanings and cannot be used interchangeably.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 16, 2024
Is except a verb?
Except is primarily a preposition or conjunction, not a verb.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 16, 2024
How do you use except in a sentence?
"Everyone passed the test except Jake."
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 16, 2024
Can I start a sentence with except?
Yes, particularly when it's used as a conjunction.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 16, 2024
Can accept be used in a negative context?
Yes, e.g., "I cannot accept this behavior."
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 16, 2024
Does accept always imply happiness?
Not always, it can be neutral or reluctant.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 16, 2024
Can except introduce a clause?
Yes, e.g., "Except when it rains, I walk to work."
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 16, 2024
Can accept have multiple meanings?
Yes, it can mean to receive, agree, or believe.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 16, 2024
Does except always imply exclusion?
Yes, it's used to specify what is not included.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 16, 2024
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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