When do you use "accept" and when "except"?

Should you accept an offer or except it? And when you're leaving something out, is that accept or except? It's a tough one. But breathe. Native speakers swap these words around constantly too. Let's clear it up.

Accept

The verb "accept" means to receive or agree to something willingly. Think of it as saying "yes" to something. If you speak German, it's a close match for akzeptieren.

• She accepted the job offer.
• They accepted the award with pride.
• The teacher accepted the late assignment.
• We accepted the conditions of the contract.
• I accept your apology.

Except

"Except" means "not including." You use it to leave something out, a lot like the German außer. Here's how we use it in a sentence:

• Everyone attended the meeting except John.
• I like all fruits except bananas.
• All the dishes were great except this one.
• The park is open daily except during holidays.
• The store is open every day except Sunday.

If you need a quick way to keep them apart, look at the "ex" in "except." It means "out," like in exit and exclude.

Now (hopefully) the next time you find yourself hesitating between these two, you'll know exactly which one to use. No exceptions!

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