skip navigation

40% off discountAccept / 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

Congress

 

 

 

 

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.
(delete – to go in)

*Yellow highlighting indicates example of incorrect usage.
Solution - lightbulb Pop-Q "Accept"

 

 

 

 

Picky eaterPractice 1

Picky Eaters  (choosy or very selective eaters)

 

 

 

  1. Select the word from the menu that best completes the sentence. 
  2. Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right. 

 

# YOUR RESPONSE FEEDBACK
1.

 

2.
 

3. .
 

4.
 

5.
 

6.


nutritional (adj) – the fiber, vitamins and minerals in food that help you to stay healthy   

7.
 

8.

exceptional (adj) – unusually good, outstanding 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

  

College ApplicationPractice 2

College Applications

 

 

 

 

  1. Select the word from the menu that best completes the sentence. 
  2. Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right. 
# YOUR RESPONSE FEEDBACK
9.  
10.  
11.  

nowadays (adv) –now, compared with what happened in the past 
12.  
13.  
14.  

stress (n) – continuous feelings of worry about work or personal life
15.
 
rejection (n) –  not being accepted or invited to attend