Accept vs except: one is a verb you do, the other leaves something out

The rule in one table

Merriam-Webster defines the two words clearly. Accept is a verb meaning "to receive something willingly" (as in "we accepted the gift" or "they were accepted into the class"). Except is most often used as a preposition meaning "not including", a synonym of but ("all except one"), and is also commonly used as a conjunction ("he does nothing except complain").

The Whitesmoke guide adds more uses: you can accept a gift, accept an apology, or learn to accept your limitations. In each case, accept is something you do, and the object is something that comes to you or that you agree with.

Accept: examples and meanings

Accept is a verb, so it changes form: accept, accepts, accepted, accepting. Its main meanings:

1. Receive willingly: She accepted the gift with a smile.
2. Say yes to an offer or invitation: I'm happy to accept the job.
3. Agree that something is true or fair: He finally accepted that he had made a mistake.
4. Let someone join: They accepted me into the programme.
5. Take responsibility or a situation as it is: You have to accept the consequences.

Common phrases: accept an apology, accept a challenge, accept responsibility, accept an offer, accept a credit card, accept defeat.

Whitesmoke gives the core meaning as to receive or give approval to. That helps with a tricky case: accepting something does not always mean physically taking it. When you accept an apology, you approve it and move on.

To sound natural, remember that accept usually needs an object: I accept alone feels unfinished. Say I accept your offer or I accept that.

Typical collocations (words that often go together): graciously accept, gladly accept, reluctantly accept, widely accepted, generally accepted.

Except: examples and meanings

Except is a word of exclusion. It tells the listener that one thing is not part of the group you just mentioned.

1. As a preposition (not including): We work every day except Sunday.
2. As a conjunction (but, apart from): He does nothing except complain. (Merriam-Webster's example)
3. In the phrase "except for": Except for the price, the hotel was perfect.
4. In the phrase "except that": The film was great, except that it was too long.

The same page notes that except has the meaning "to leave out or exclude (someone or something)" when it is a verb. This use is rare and mostly legal or formal, as in the contract excepts certain goods. A grammar site shows both words together: they accepted my 40% off coupon when I bought my TV, meaning they approved it; they excepted televisions on the back of the 40% off coupon, meaning TVs were not included.

The second sentence uses except as a verb, which is uncommon. In everyday English, you will nearly always use except as a preposition: everyone except me, all except one, nothing except water.

One more tip from the same source, aimed at non-lawyers: if you are not studying or practicing law, you probably will never need to contemplate using except or accept as a verb in the exclusion sense. If you need a verb in general writing, there is a good chance accept is what you are looking for.

The two-second test

Run these checks in order.

1. Is the word a verb that you do? Can you replace it with receive, take, agree to or approve? Then write accept.
2. Does the word mean "but" or "not including"? Can you replace it with apart from, excluding or but? Then write except.
3. Is it followed by "for" or "that"? Except for and except that are always except.

Apply it:

• "I can't ___ this gift." (receive) fits, so accept.
• "Everyone ___ Maria was there." (apart from) fits, so except.
• "She ___ the apology." (approved) fits, so accepted.
• "We are open every day ___ Monday." (but) fits, so except.

The grammar tells you the same thing. After a subject such as I, she or they, you need a verb, so you need accept (or accepted). After a complete statement, a word that adds an exclusion needs except.

A spelling clue helps too: except begins with ex, as in exclude, exit and exempt, which are all about leaving something out. Accept starts with ac-, as in accommodate and accompany, which are about taking something in or along.

How to say them: are accept and except pronounced the same?

Learners often ask: "Are except and accept pronounced the same?" They are not identical, but they are very close, which is why the confusion is so common. Merriam-Webster says that the confusion between except and accept seems to be due to their similarity in sound.

Both words have two syllables, and in both the stress falls on the second syllable:

• accept: ak-SEPT (the first syllable is weak, with a very short vowel)
• except: ik-SEPT or ek-SEPT (the first syllable is also weak, and the vowel is slightly different)

In fast speech, the first syllable almost disappears in both, so the words sound close to "k-SEPT". The difference is small: accept starts with a short, relaxed "uh" sound (the schwa), while except starts with a short "ih" or "eh".

Practical advice:

• Do not try to hear the difference in a fast sentence. Use the meaning to understand which word is used.
• When you speak, stress the second syllable clearly in both words. Putting the stress on the first syllable (AK-sept) is a common mistake and can confuse the listener.
• Say the pairs aloud: "I accept the offer." "Everyone except me."

For more on weak syllables, see our guide to the schwa sound, and on stress patterns see word stress in English.

Accept, except, expect and aspect: four words that get mixed up

People also mix up expect and aspect with these two. In one case, you might see except where expect should be, but Merriam-Webster treats that as more of a typographical issue.

The words look similar because they share letters (-cept or -spect), but their meanings are different. Expect is about the future (I expect rain tomorrow). Aspect is about a part of a bigger thing.

Common mistakes:

• Wrong: I except your invitation. Right: I accept your invitation.
• Wrong: Everyone accept me was ready. Right: Everyone except me was ready.
• Wrong: I accept you to call me. Right: I expect you to call me.

A quick question can sort them: Am I doing something (accept), leaving something out (except), thinking about the future (expect) or talking about a part (aspect)?

Quiz: accept or except?

Fill the gap. Answers follow.

1. I'm happy to ___ your offer.
2. The shop is open daily ___ Sundays.
3. She could not ___ the news.
4. Everyone ___ Anna passed the test.
5. They ___ credit cards here.
6. I like all vegetables ___ onions.
7. He finally ___ that he was wrong.
8. Nothing was missing ___ the keys.

Answers: 1. accept. 2. except. 3. accept. 4. except. 5. accept. 6. except. 7. accepted. 8. except.

To remember the difference, write four sentences of your own: two with accept and two with except, then say them aloud with the stress on the second syllable. If you want a conversation partner to practise with, read our guide to English speaking practice, where an AI tutor can notice small word errors while you talk.