Which Word?: Accept vs. Except

Hello all!

I’m back with another tricky word pair. This week’s pair is accept and except, which are often confused because they sound the same, even though they have very different spellings and meanings. In fact, they almost have opposing meanings: Accept is a verb that means to receive, while except is a preposition that means not including or other than (per Merriam-Webster). So, She accepted the flowers he gave her and He remembered everything except his wallet.

So how can you remember which is which when they sound the same? The answer lies in the spelling. Except has an X in it, which we tend to use to indicate that something is not or should not be included. So, the word with the X in it is the one that indicates that something is not included.

I hope this was another helpful hint you can use to improve your writing! Until next time!

This entry was posted in Usage by Sarah Dawson. Bookmark the permalink.

About Sarah Dawson

For nearly a decade, I have worked with both corporate and independent authors to perfect their writing prior to its publication. As a freelancer, the services I offer include proofreading, copyediting (light, medium, and heavy), substantive editing, rewriting, and writing. Whatever the type of service I provide, I consider myself a liaison between author and reader; my job is to convey the author’s message to the reader in the clearest, most pleasing way possible. Among my particular areas of expertise are educational materials and child and young adult literature. My background as an educator and a school librarian gives me unique insight into how to make such writing exceptional. I have also worked extensively with corporate writers, working on text for use in marketing, employee education, and websites. I welcome all inquiries. Let me know how I can help perfect your writing!