"except"and "except for"

Question

Dear teachers:        Here are two examples:1.Everything is right except one thing.                                                   2.Everything is right except of one thing. Which one is correct?The first one sounds better.How to use "except"and "except for"correctly?Thanks for your time and help.Katie

Ahmed7 · Accepted Answer

Hi Kitty,
I believe that ..
"Everything is right except of one thing" is correct.

And
"Everything is right except one thing" is more correct.
And I'm not familiar with the third phrase

.. Regards,,

Kitty-girl · Answer

haha```Thanks.In my opinion,the first sentence is correct.I have no idea if the second one is correct or not.

Ahmed7 · Answer

I used to use the second phrase when I talk, that's why I sure about it <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/> ... But of course another opinion will be good :-)

JohnParis · Answer

Hi Katie,
Everything is right except one thing. This sentence is correct. Some people may put a comma after "right."
Everything is right except of one thing is incorrect. The correct sentence is: Everything is right except for one thing.

I'd like you to consider something I have always found amusing. If everything is right, how can there be one thing wrong?
If everything is right, then everything is right. Nothing - not even one thing - can be wrong. Right?
It's like those signs you sometimes see in small grocery stores that say "Open every day - except Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday."
Or, "Open 24/7 except from 2:00am to 5:00am." (I saw that one in a McDonald's restaurant in London).

Prepositions are difficult for all ESL learners. Don't give up - it will come to you eventually.

Ujale · Answer

The first one is correct per written English. Spoken English has a lot more freedom when it comes to using words in different ways.

Kitty-girl · Answer

Thanks very much for your tme and help,JohnParis.
Your reply is really wonderful and I got it.
By the way,Can "except"and "except for" replace each other in every situation?
Katie

Kitty-girl · Answer

Ujals,thanks very much for you time and reply.

JohnParis · Answer

You're welcome Katie.
Here's the best answer to your question - and it comes from our very own Mister Micawber.
http://www.EnglishForward.com/English/ExceptVsExceptFor/qkkqv/post.htm

PS: Don't be surprised if I used them incorrectly

!

Kitty-girl · Answer

hahaha``OK thanks for your suggestions.

Dimsumexpress · Answer

Kitty-girl wrote: /tinymce347/ExceptAndExceptFor/2/brpvxn/Post.htm#sc1495267

Hi,

The correct version is " Everything is ok except [for] .....

Not "Except of ...."

Sometimes, "except when" is used as a conjunction for special situation and circumstance.

Peter is a very shy person except when he starts drinking.

"except"and "except for"

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