excepting

IPA/ɛksˈɛptɪŋ/

KK[ˌɛksˈɛptɪŋ]IPA/ˌɛksˈɛptɪŋ/

1.prepositionC1

Definition

used before a noun to mean that the thing or person you mention is the only one that the main statement does not apply to.

Example

Every shop on the street, excepting the small bakery, closed during the typhoon.

excepting + definite noun phrase

Nala invited all her cousins to the wedding, excepting Karim, who lived too far away.

excepting + named person as exclusion

Common collocations

excepting one
excepting a few
excepting weekends
excepting holidays

Synonyms

except
the everyday equivalent; preferred in speech and most writing
except for
used when the exception starts the sentence or stands more independently
apart from
neutral register, common in British English
save
very formal and literary; rare in modern speech

Antonyms

including
marks the noun as part of the group, not outside it

Grammar Patterns

excepting + noun phrase

Usage Note

Often follows a universal noun phrase such as 'every', 'all', or 'each', and singles out one item that is left out. More formal and less common than 'except' or 'except for'; the latter two are the everyday choices in modern English.

Common Mistakes

Excepting for the rain, the day was perfect.

Excepting the rain, the day was perfect.

do not add 'for' after 'excepting'; only the bare preposition is correct.

I like all fruits, excepting that I hate lemons.

I like all fruits, except that I hate lemons.

when introducing a clause, use 'except that', not 'excepting that'.

1.verbtransitiveC2

Definition

to deliberately not include someone or something in a group, list, or rule.

Example

The new tax rule excepts small farms with fewer than five workers.

transitive: except + direct object

Hana asked the teacher to except her brother from the swimming class.

except + object + from + noun

Common collocations

except from a rule
except from a list
be excepted from

Synonyms

exclude
the standard everyday equivalent; far more common
omit
leave out, especially from a written list or account
exempt
specifically free someone from a rule or duty

Antonyms

include
treat the item as part of the group
incorporate
bring the item into the group as part of it

Grammar Patterns

except + noun (from + noun)

Usage Note

Frequently passive: 'X is excepted from Y'. Object is usually something or someone treated as a deliberate exclusion from a rule, law, list, or category. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about deciding to leave something out; sense 2 is about voicing disagreement.

Common Mistakes

I excepted his apology.

I accepted his apology.

'except' (verb) means to leave out; 'accept' means to agree to receive. They are different words.

He excepted to go with us.

He expected to go with us.

'except' is not a synonym of 'expect'.

2.verbintransitiveC2

Definition

to say openly that you disagree with something or find it wrong, usually a remark, decision, or behaviour.

Example

Eitan excepted to the chairman's tone during the meeting and asked him to apologise.

except + to + noun phrase

Several neighbours excepted to the new parking rules in a letter to the council.

except to + the thing objected to

Common collocations

except to a remark
except to a decision
except strongly to

Synonyms

object
the everyday equivalent; far more common in speech
protest
express disagreement more strongly and often publicly
take exception to
the modern fixed phrase that has largely replaced 'except to'

Antonyms

agree
say that you share the opinion or accept the decision
approve
officially say something is acceptable

Grammar Patterns

except to + noun

Usage Note

Only sense that uses 'to' to mark the thing objected to: 'except to + noun phrase'. In modern English the fixed phrase 'take exception to' is much more common than the bare verb 'except to'. Distinguish from sense 1, where the verb takes a direct object (the thing excluded), not a 'to' phrase.

Common Mistakes

I except your decision.

I except to your decision.

this sense always needs 'to' before the noun.

She excepted at his comment.

She excepted to his comment.

the correct preposition is 'to', not 'at'.

1.conjunctionC2

Definition

used to introduce a condition that would make the first part of the sentence not true; close in meaning to 'unless' or 'apart from when'.

Example

The old church is open to visitors every afternoon, excepting it is raining heavily.

excepting + clause as condition

Ari said he would walk to work each morning, excepting the path was blocked by snow.

excepting introduces an exception clause

Common collocations

excepting that

Synonyms

unless
the standard modern equivalent in everyday English
except that
introduces a clause that limits the main statement
save that
very formal and literary

Grammar Patterns

main clause + excepting + clause

Usage Note

Very rare and old-fashioned in modern English; 'unless' or 'except (that)' is used instead in almost all current writing and speech. Distinguish from sense 2 (which only introduces a noted exception, not a hypothetical condition).

Common Mistakes

I will come tomorrow, excepting I am sick.

I will come tomorrow, unless I am sick.

in modern English, use 'unless' for conditions; 'excepting' here sounds very dated.

2.conjunctionC2

Definition

used before a clause to mention one fact that is not true of what was just stated, in the sense of 'with this one exception'.

Example

Rafael's plan was perfect, excepting that no one knew how to pay for it.

excepting that + counter-fact clause

Élise enjoyed the long train ride, excepting that the heating in her carriage never worked.

excepting that introduces a single drawback

Common collocations

excepting that

Synonyms

except that
the modern everyday equivalent; far more common
apart from the fact that
more long-winded but clearer in formal writing

Grammar Patterns

main clause + excepting that + clause

Usage Note

Use to add one limiting fact to a generally true statement. Modern English nearly always uses 'except that' here; 'excepting that' sounds formal or old-fashioned. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense names a real fact, sense 1 names a hypothetical condition.

Common Mistakes

The film was great, excepting the ending.

The film was great, except for the ending.

when you are not introducing a clause, use the preposition 'except for', not the conjunction 'excepting that'.

3.conjunctionC2

Definition

used in older or regional English before a clause, in the sense of 'only' — that is, to give the single condition or reason that limits the main statement.

Example

Tamás would have moved to the coast long ago, excepting his mother could not bear the heat.

excepting + clause meaning 'only that'

Lukas would have written sooner, excepting he had lost the address.

excepting introduces the single reason limiting the statement

Common collocations

excepting only

Synonyms

only
informal modern equivalent at the start of a limiting clause
except that
the standard modern form for naming a single limiting fact

Grammar Patterns

main clause + excepting + clause

Usage Note

Marked as rare and old-fashioned in modern English; survives mainly in older novels and in some regional speech. Close in meaning to 'only' or 'except that'. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense reads as 'the only reason it didn't happen is…'.

Common Mistakes

She would have called, excepting only she was busy.

She would have called, except that she was busy.

modern English uses 'except that' here; 'excepting only' sounds very dated.

Word family

except
prepositionB1
except
conjunctionB2
except
verbC2
exception
nounB2
exceptional
adjectiveB2
exceptionally
adverbB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: preposition/1

All five mark something as being left out of a statement, but they differ in register and position. 'Except' is the everyday choice and works in any position: 'Everyone except Sara came.' 'Except for' is preferred at the start of a sentence and when the exception stands more on its own: 'Except for Sara, everyone came.' 'Excepting' is more formal and old-fashioned; it appears in legal and careful written English, often after 'all' or 'every'. 'Apart from' is neutral in register and very common in British English, and it can also mean 'in addition to'. 'Save' is highly formal and literary, mostly seen in older texts: 'All save one had left the room.' In modern speech, 'except' or 'apart from' is almost always the safest choice.

except ↗except forexcepting ↗apart from ↗save ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

excepting Sundays
excepting weekends
excepting holidays
excepting children

Adverbs

always excepting
strongly excepting

Phrases

all excepting one
every X excepting Y

Prepositions

excepting from
excepting to

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed in late Middle English from the verb 'except' (taken from Old French 'excepter' and Latin 'exceptare', a frequentative of 'excipere' meaning 'to take out') plus the present-participle ending '-ing'. The participle came to act first as a preposition meaning 'leaving out', and later spread into use as a conjunction. By the modern period the preposition 'except' had largely replaced 'excepting' in everyday speech, leaving 'excepting' mainly in formal, legal, and older literary writing.

Entries near

Previous entries

Next entries

excepting

excepting — preposition

1. used before a noun to mean that the thing or person you mention is the only one

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

excepting — verb

1. to deliberately not include someone or something in a group, list, or rule.

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. to say openly that you disagree with something or find it wrong, usually a remar

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

excepting — conjunction

1. used to introduce a condition that would make the first part of the sentence not

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. used before a clause to mention one fact that is not true of what was just state

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. used in older or regional English before a clause, in the sense of 'only' — that

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

Entries near

Entries near