Accept vs. Except: What They Mean, How They Differ, and When to Use Each

Introduction

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

They look similar, sound similar, and often appear in similar sentence structures—making them easy to mix up for students, writers, and English learners.

This guide explains:

●  What accept means

●  What except means

●  How they differ

●  How to use each correctly

●  Common mistakes to avoid

●  Easy examples

●  A quick quiz to test yourself

What Does “Accept” Mean?

Accept is a verb.

✔ Meaning

To receive, agree to, or approve something.

✔ Examples

What Does “Except” Mean?

Except is usually a preposition (sometimes a conjunction).

✔ Meaning

To exclude or “leave out.”

✔ Examples

Accept vs. Except（Side-by-Side Comparison）

How to Remember the Difference

✔ Trick #1: Look at the first letter

●  Accept → Agree / Approve

●  Except → Exclude

✔ Trick #2: Try replacing the word

If you can replace it with “receive/agree”, use accept.

If you can replace it with “exclude”, use except.

Common Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

❌ Mistake 1: Using “accept” when you mean “except”

●  ❌ Everyone came accept Sarah.

●  ✔ Everyone came except Sarah.

❌ Mistake 2: Using “except” as a verb

●  ❌ I except your invitation.

●  ✔ I accept your invitation.

❌ Mistake 3: Confusing them in academic writing

Academic markers often penalize this error.

More Real-World Examples

✔ Accept (to receive/agree)

●  They accepted the proposal after reviewing the data.

●  He accepted responsibility for the mistake.

●  We do not accept cash.

✔ Except (to exclude)

●  The store is open every day except Sunday.

●  No one knew the answer except Maria.

●  Except for minor issues, the project went well.

Mini Quiz

Choose the correct word.

1. I cannot ____ your request.

2. Everyone passed the test ____ one student.

3. She happily ____ the award.

4. The museum is open daily ____ Monday.

Answers:

1) accept

2) except

3) accepted

4) except

FAQ

1. Is “accept” a verb?

Yes. “Accept” is always a verb meaning receive or agree.

2. Is “except” always a preposition?

Mostly yes. It can also be a conjunction (e.g., “except that…”).

3. Can “except” mean “unless”?

In older or more formal English, yes—though it's rare today.

4. How can I avoid confusing the two?

Use the memory tricks:

●  Accept = agree

●  Except = exclude

5. Why do people confuse these words?

Because they look and sound similar, and differ by only one letter.

Conclusion

“Accept” and “except” are easy to confuse, but remembering that:

●  Accept = receive / agree

●  Except = exclude

will help you use them correctly in any context.