Except vs except for

Question

What's the difference between "except" and "except for"? As far as I know, "except" can be replaced by "other than", but what about "except for"?

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Here are some notes I have gathered on the 'problem'. Enjoy!

When except is followed by a verb, we usually use the infinitive without “to”. For example:

You can’t do anything except hope and pray.

He’ll do anything except work.

NOTE: “but” can be used too.

Except is also used with... that… For example: In general she was happy, except that she couldn’t spend enough time reading.

When except is followed by a thing or a person, it is usually followed by “for”. For example:

They enjoyed the whole recital except for the last song.

The party was great, except for the shortage of ice.

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An abstract of a journal article on the 'problem' concludes: " 'Except' and 'except for' can be used to mean 'with the exception of,' but when it is used to mean 'if it were not for' only 'except for' can be used. Also, it is not advisable to begin a sentence with 'except' unless it is followed by 'for.' "

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Several dictionaries treat the phrase as an idiom:

Idiom: except for: Were it not for: I would join you except for my cold.

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There is no major difference between 'except' and 'except for'. You use the word 'except' when you want to exclude any person/item that your main statement does not apply to. For example: 'I love all my family - EXCEPT my young brother. He is always rude to the boy friends who come to visit me!'

'Except for' has much the same meaning. It excludes circumstances which may prevent your main statement from being true. For example: 'The disco was completely empty - EXCEPT FOR a few couples who were trying, unsuccessfully, to dance to the DJ's choice of tapes'.

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Here is a general distinction. Both have the same meaning (leaving out, not including) but they are different grammatically. Except is a conjunction sometimes and a preposition sometimes. Except for is a preposition only.

Consider these sentences.

(1) He can do everything except cook.

(2) I know nothing about the controversy except that I read one small article about it in the newspaper.

In sentences (1) and (2) we cannot use except for. In sentence (1) the conjunction except is followed by a verb phrase. In sentence (2) the conjunction except is followed by a clause. Because it is a preposition, except for is not possible in these two sentences.

Bepleased · Answer

Hello MM,

I have some naive ideas and different from you.

Though it made so perfect, yet still remedy.

Your conclusions are all good, but there are some problem in conclusion process.

I divide them into five parts.

In Part A, “except” is conjunction and “except for” also conjunction.

“except for” is not preposition but real conjunction.

The main differences between “conjunction except” and “conjunction except for” is:

(1) A thing except B

(2) A thing except / but that anti-A is for (= because of) B / B gives cause for (= as a help to) anti-A. = A thing except / but for B.

The prototype of “except for” is “save it be that.../ by../ through....”.

A thing except / but that anti-A is for (= because of) B / B gives cause for (= as a help to) anti-A. = A thing except / but for B.

= A thing save anti-A be that..../ by A / through B

e.g.

They enjoyed the whole recital except for the last song.

= Save it be by / with/ for the last song, they enjoyed the whole recital.

(here, “it”= they didn’t enjoy the whole recital )

= Except / But that it is for the last song and the “it” becomes the anti-it (= they enjoyed the whole recital)

So, except for or but for the last song = except / but that it is for the last song. = save it be for the last song

So, we are very certain as to that “except for” is not a preposition but a conjunction.

Bepleased · Answer

In Part 5:(     ) In there some problems of process exist. (     )The reason for “except for” not instead of “except” is that “to cook” can’t act as the object of the “for” not that “Except for” is a preposition only, because it is conjunction too. (      )   The # 1 sentence, there is no question that “except for” takes part in it.(    )  He can do everything except that to cook gives cause for it (= anti [he can do everything]) (      )   The #2 sentence is even with #1 sentence.

Bepleased · Answer

If Anti-A were not for B, =    If that we'd have finished were / existed not as part of B, we'd never have finished.

Except vs except for

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