How to Use Accept and Except Correctly in a Sentence

English can be tricky, right?

And especially when it comes to words that sound the same but mean completely different things. 

“Accept” and “except” are two of the most commonly confused words in the language. 

I know you were mostly confused by these words too.

As their pronunciation is similar, it often causes people to use them incorrectly. And what it does is, it will make your sentences unclear and meaningless.

So you should understand when and how to use these words correctly.

If you use them properly, it will make your writing clear and more effective. 

Qozex's grammar checker is great at fixing these sorts of mistakes. If you use "accept" instead of "except," this tool will find the error and correct it for you.

In this guide, I’ll explain their meanings, uses, and how to avoid common mistakes. 

Plus, I’ll give you examples, tips, and even a mini quiz to practice what you’ve learned. 

So, let’s begin! 

Accept vs except: What do they mean? 

Before we go into any further details, let’s start with the basics.

Accept

The word accept means to receive or approve something willingly. 

It’s always used as a verb. 

You can get it by this example:

I accept your invitation to the party.

Other meanings of accept include tolerating something or agreeing to an idea.

Except

On the other hand, except means "excluding" or "not including." 

It’s usually a preposition but can also function as a conjunction or even a verb in rare cases. 

Let’s understand with this example here:

Everyone except Jenny went to the meeting.

When to use accept?

Now you already know the meaning of “accept,” right?

So, let’s get straight into how to use it!

1. When receiving something

Use accept to indicate that you’re taking something willingly.

Example: She gladly accepts the gift.

2. When agreeing to a proposal or idea

It shows approval of a suggestion.

Example: The team accepted the changes in the plan.

3. When suffering something

Sometimes, accept is used to express tolerance of a difficult reality.

Example: He accepts the harsh reality with grace.

4. When formally approving something

It indicates official acknowledgment or confirmation.

Example: The committee accepted the revised document.

5. When expressing willingness

You can use it to show readiness or openness.

Example: We accept all forms of payment.

Let’s review some more examples of accept:

• I accept the terms and conditions before proceeding.
• Will you accept this apology?
• Our school accepts students from all backgrounds.
• They accepted the challenge and worked hard to succeed.
• She accepted that she needed to improve her skills.

When to use except? 

Ok! Now let’s explore different uses of except:

1. When excluding something

Use except to leave something out of a group or situation.

Example: Everyone except Lisa participated in the discussion.

2. When highlighting an inconsistency 

It points out something that is not part of the general statement.

Example: The store is open every day except Sunday.

3. When expressing contrast

Except can indicate a difference between two situations.

Example: He loves all animals except snakes.

4. As a conjunction meaning “But”

It links two contrasting ideas in a sentence.

Example: I would help, except I’m busy.

Here are some more examples of except:

• The gym is open all week except on holidays.
• All employees except the manager attended the meeting.
• I was ready to leave, except it started raining.
• Except for the main road, the town was deserted.
• The company excepted weekends from the work schedule.

How to remember the difference between “accept” and “except”?

Until now, you can easily distinguish between “accept" and "except”, right?

Let me quickly explain the difference so you can easily remember it!

	Accept	Except
Part of speech	Always a verb.	Can be a preposition, conjunction, or verb (rarely).
Meaning	To “receive,” “approve,” or “agree to.”	“But not,” “only,” or “to exclude.”
Usage	Indicates an action of willingness.	Refers to exclusion or contrast.

Can you use both accept or except in one sentence? 

Yes! You can use both words in the same sentence when you need to show contrast. 

Let’s assume you’re writing a sentence where these words function differently in the same context.

Here are a few examples:

• I accept all responsibilities, except those that involve public speaking.
• Everyone accepted the rules, except Michael.
• The library accepts all book donations, except damaged ones.

But let me tell you here one most important thing while writing a sentence. 

When you use both “accept” and “except,” make sure to focus on clarity of their individual meaning. 

So, try our paraphrasing tool to rewrite sentences. This tool will make your writing clear and meaningful.

Common mistakes people make with these words 

When you’re writing an essay or creating a paragraph, you may confuse “accept” or “except.”

Therefore, to avoid this complexity, I mentioned some common errors and also its solution below:

1. When you mix them up in writing

I except the invitation. (Incorrect)

I accept the invitation. (Correct)

2. Using except when you mean accept

Except my apology. (Incorrect)

Accept my apology. (Correct)

3. Forgetting the meanings

Many confuse due to the accept and except pronunciation. 

Double-check by asking: Am I talking about including or excluding?

4. Spelling mistakes

Check for spelling errors, as they can change the meaning completely.

You should check the readability of your sentence to analyze any difficulty and these sorts of mistakes. If you find any, rewrite the text to correct them.

Accept vs except: You’ve got it covered! 

By now, you should feel confident about using “accept” and “except” correctly. The concept is understanding their meanings and paying attention to the context of your sentence.

If you’re ever unsure, remember the simple tricks I’ve shared, like associating accept with action and except with exclusion. 

Practice makes perfect, so create sentences that use both of these words correctly and clearly, while also improving your skills.

Let’s practice together! 

Fill in the blanks with either accept or except:

1. She did not ______ the invitation to the party.
2. Everyone is going to the picnic ______ Mark.
3. I ______ your apology.
4. All the kids passed the test ______ one.
5. Will you ______ the challenge?
6. The house is clean, ______ for the kitchen.
7. They ______ all major credit cards.

Answers:

1. Accept 
2. Except
3. Accept
4. Except
5. Accept
6. Except
7. Accept

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between except and accept?

Accept means to agree or receive something, while except means to exclude or leave out.

What are the synonyms of accept?

Synonyms for accept include: receive, agree, approve, and allow.

What are the synonyms of except?

Synonyms for except include: exclude, omit, and leave out.

Do you accept or except a job?

You accept a job when you agree to take it.