Accept vs Except | Difference Between

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Accept vs Except Difference

We have learned that, in the English language, and as with, perhaps, all the other languages, just because two words sound the same, it does not mean they mean the same.

In the case of these two words “accept” and “except”, perhaps one of the reasons why they have been used interchangeably despite the fact that they look different is that the way they are pronounced is very much the same. Here is a quick break down of what these two words actually mean and how and where they are used.

First off, the word accept is actually a verb, an action word. In a sentence, a subject has to be doing the “accepting”. To accept means to receive something or agree with something in both figurative and literal sense. For instance, once can say this: “I accept gifts of any kind for my birthday”. In the mentioned sentence, the subject implies that he or she is willing to receive any material (or immaterial gift) for his or her birthday. One can also say this “I accept your argument as it has a valid point.” In this sentence, the subject acknowledges or agrees with someone else’s opinion or thought, which is, of course, an intangible object.

Except, on the other hand, takes a totally different meaning. It is not just used as a verb but also a preposition and an adjective. The word except means to exclude. An example of its usage as a preposition, which is often its use, is this: “I eat all kinds of fruits except for apples”. The subject here implies that all types of fruits are acceptable for his or her taste but apples. As an adjective, the word except takes the form “exceptive”. It is rare to see this word used as a verb.