One means to agree or receive, the other means to exclude.
Verb. To agree to receive or do something. It implies willingness or consent.
She decided to accept the job offer.
Ella decidió aceptar la oferta de trabajo.
Do you accept credit cards?
¿Aceptan tarjetas de crédito?
He finally accepted that he was wrong.
Por fin aceptó que estaba equivocado.
Preposition or conjunction. Means 'not including' or 'but not'. It excludes something from a group.
Everyone was invited except John.
Todos fueron invitados excepto John.
The store is open every day except Sunday.
La tienda abre todos los días excepto el domingo.
I like all vegetables except broccoli.
Me gustan todas las verduras excepto el brócoli.
Common mistake
Using 'except' when you mean 'accept'. Wrong: "She excepted the award." (correct: accepted)
Trick to remember it
'Accept' starts with 'AC' — think 'ACknowledge' or 'ACtion'. 'Except' starts with 'EX' — think 'EXclude' or 'EXempt'.
Quick rule
Agree to receive or do something? Use 'accept'. Excluding something from a group? Use 'except'.
Did you know?
'Except' can technically be used as a verb in formal writing, meaning 'to formally exclude'. But it is so rare in modern English that most native speakers have never encountered it as a verb.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
Everyone passed the exam ____ Maria.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
She decided to ____ the scholarship.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Agree to receive or do something? Use 'accept'. Excluding something from a group? Use 'except'.
Using 'except' when you mean 'accept'. Wrong: "She excepted the award." (correct: accepted)
'Accept' starts with 'AC' — think 'ACknowledge' or 'ACtion'. 'Except' starts with 'EX' — think 'EXclude' or 'EXempt'.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy