Accept vs. Except: What's the Difference?
Quick Answer
accept = verb — to receive, agree to, or take something
except = preposition/conjunction — excluding, apart from, but
Explanation
ACCEPT (verb)
To receive, agree to, or approve
accept + object
"She accepted the invitation."
"Please accept my apology."
"He accepted the challenge."
EXCEPT (preposition)
Excluding, apart from, but
everyone/all/everything + except + noun
"Everyone passed except Tom."
"I eat everything except fish."
"Open daily except Sundays."
Memory trick: Accept = Acquire (you take it in). Except = Exclude (you leave it out — like "exit" or "exclude").
Examples
Common Mistakes
Incorrect: Will you except my offer?
Correct: Will you accept my offer? (accept = verb, to agree to)
Incorrect: I like all vegetables accept broccoli.
Correct: I like all vegetables except broccoli. (except = excluding)
Practice
Choose the correct word:
"Everyone _____ Maria decided to _____ the new contract."