Accept / Except
Approving or rejecting
Accept (verb) vs. Except (verb)
| ACCEPT - TAKE IN / APPROVE | EXCEPT — EXCLUDE / REJECT |
|---|---|
They accepted my 40% off coupon when I bought my TV. (They agreed to take it.) |
They excepted televisions on the back of the 40% off coupon. (TVs weren't included.) |
They accepted me into their club. . (They agreed to take me in.) |
They admitted several people, but excepted those under age twenty-one. (People under 21 couldn't get in.) |
ACCEPT Additional Meanings
Accept (v.) Accepted (adj.)
| VARIANT MEANING | EXAMPLES |
|---|---|
WILLINGLY RECEIVE (v.) |
They accepted the gift with smiles and thank-yous. |
AUTHORIZE (v.) |
The web site won't accept my password. |
ADMIT (v.) |
The University accepted her into their Business School. |
REGARD AS PROPER OR NORMAL (v.) |
We find it hard to accept the violence we see on TV. |
SETTLE EMOTIONALLY |
It took a long time for the boy to accept the fact that his mother abandoned him. |
AGREE TO (v.) |
The businessmen accepted the offer to buy the company. |
TAKE IN PAYMENT (v.) |
The store accepts credit cards. |
EXCEPT Additional Meanings
Except (conj.) Except (v.) Exceptional (adj.)
| VARIANT MEANING | EXAMPLES |
|---|---|
BUT NOT (conj.) |
The supermarket is open daily except on holidays. (After making a generalization – before a preposition) |
ANY OTHER CONDITION; UNLESS (conj.) |
I'll go with you except if he comes too. (before an if-clause) |
BUT NOT (conj.) |
It's easy to get there except on foot. (After making a generalization – before a preposition) |
BUT NOT (conj.) |
Except for a few, everyone wanted to walk to the concert. (before a noun phrase) |
BUT NOT (conj.) |
He isn't interested in anything except eating and sleeping. (After making a negative generalization.) |
ONLY + that (conj.) |
I would go with you except that I already have plans. (before a that-clause) |
EXCLUDED (participial adj) |
The sale coupon listed the excepted merchandise. (participle. - excluded) |
EXCLUDED (verb) |
They admitted several people, but excepted those under age twenty-one. |
OUTSTANDING (adj.) |
She was an exceptional student. (different from all other - in a good way) |
Also see – But not / Except
Common Mistakes
| ERROR | FIX |
|---|---|
*Will Congress except the automakers' proposal? |
Will the government accept the automakers' proposal? (approve) Will the Congress except the automakers' proposal? (reject) |
*The nightclub wouldn't except me to go in because I was under twenty-one. |
The nightclub wouldn't accept me because I was under twenty-one. |
*Yellow highlighting indicates example of incorrect usage.
Pop-Q "Accept"
Practice 1
Picky Eaters (choosy or very selective eaters)
- Select the word from the menu that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.
Practice 2
College Applications
- Select the word from the menu that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.