except

To leave someone or something out of a group, rule, or statement.

• The rule excepts children under five.
• These workers are excepted from the new requirement.
• The agreement expressly excepted certain types of damage.

How to use it: except someone/something from something (The policy excepts emergency vehicles from the parking ban.)

Similar words: exclude, exempt

Opposites: include

Common phrases: except someone from something, except certain cases

To formally object to something, especially in a legal case.

• Counsel excepted to the evidence.
• The defence excepted to the witness testimony.
• The lawyer formally excepted to the judge’s ruling.

How to use it: except to something (The lawyer excepted to the ruling.)

Similar words: object

Common phrases: except to something, except to testimony

Used to name the person or thing that is not included in what you have just said.

• Everyone came except Tom.
• I like all vegetables except onions.
• The shop opens every day except Sunday.

How to use it: except for someone/something (The room was empty except for one chair.)

Similar words: apart from, other than

Common phrases: except for something, everyone except someone, nothing except something

Used before a statement that gives a difference or exception to what you have just said.

• I like the flat, except that it is noisy.
• He never calls except when he needs money.
• She said nothing except to thank us.

How to use it: except that… (The rooms are identical except that one has a balcony.); except when… (I cycle to work except when it rains.)

Common phrases: except that, except when, except to say

Used to introduce a fact that explains why something did not happen or succeed as expected.

• I would have called, except my phone died.
• The plan sounded easy, except nobody knew the way.
• We tried to surprise her, except she already knew.

How to use it: except (that)… (We meant to leave early, except the car would not start.)

Similar words: but

Common phrases: except that, except it