NewsBlues mrsbgrammar Page 21
Chapter 1 Common Grammar Mistakes
11
accept/except
Mrs. B hears "accept" misused so often, she's thinking it's time for a
lesson on the difference between "accept" and "except."
"Accept" is always a verb.
It means to take or to receive something.
v
John ACCEPTED our congratulations on his Emmy win with
much appreciatio n.
"Except" can be a verb.
It means to omit or to exclude.
v
Patricia was EXCEPTED from the list of possible reporters to go
to NYC.
The more common use of "except" is as a preposition meaning but.
v
No assignment desk in town EXCEPT ours is equipped well
enough to handle more than one breaking story at a time.
Mrs. B would be glad to ACCEPT the invitation to help President
Bush with his grammar, were she to get it.
No one EXCEPT Mrs. B has much enthusiasm for the idea.
Pity.
