Accept vs. Except

A proofreader excitedly analyzes your text with a discerning eye that corrects blemishes. If you instinctively choose the correct word, there’s less dirt to dust off your writing—giving you more time to focus on your subject matter. Let’s take a look at two words that end with the four letters “c-e-p-t.”

Since “accept” and “except” each begin with different letters, one can easily identify that these are indeed two distinct words. The relaxed, mindful writer clearly knows the appropriate context for each of these words. However, when one is caught up in translating an idea from her mind into coherent words on a computer screen, the creative process can often take priority over grammar, spelling, and word choice.

There are many ways to use the verb “accept.” All we need to examine, though, is why “accept” is a different word from “except” and how to employ each word to transcribe the meaning that you intend to convey.

The verb “accept” means “to take in, receive.”

The word “except” is not a verb. It belongs to the second-tier of parts of speech (noun, verb, and adjective belong to the first-tier).

“Except” can be used as a preposition, a conjunction, or an idiom. But who cares about that? In each form, the word “except” is utilized to mean “with the exclusion of ____.”

Accept

When using the word “accept,” associate it with the word “acceptance”—you take something in, you receive something, you accept something.

Accept --> Acceptance --> Take In

Except

When you use the word “except,” you want to signify “exclude.”

Except --> Exclude --> Leave Out

Don’t be paranoid about mistakes; accept that they will appear in your writing, and take the necessary steps to eliminate them before you release your final product. Even if you think that the confusion of two words is idiotic, it’s important not to take any word for granted when you’re proofreading.

About the Author: Stefanie Flaxman corrects business, marketing, and educational documents in 24 hours to eliminate reputation-crushing mistakes from your writing. She's a professional proofreader and the founder of Revision Fairy® Small Business Proofreading Services. Connect with Stefanie on Twitter.