all but someone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "all but someone" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that everyone except for a specific person is included in a statement or situation. Example: "Everyone was invited to the party, all but John, who had prior commitments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

What is the hacker, after all, but someone who is a master of number and code?

The New York Times - Books

Or perhaps it's not a child at all, but someone withered by age?

The Guardian - Books

When she swung the door open, she discovered that he wasn't a stranger after all but someone who didn't come to the house often enough for her to have recognized his outline.

The New Yorker

The irony of communicating with British baby boomers, as every advertiser already knows, is that many of them don't identify with themselves at all, but someone 20 years younger.

The Guardian

What if the systems were not involved at all, but someone made a mistake in the complicated forensic analysis that accompanies tracking and tracing?

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"The fuse gets lit all the time, but someone's able to stamp it out now," says Bradbury.

The Guardian - Music

After all, who but someone with a teenage boy's daring sense of immortality would willingly run into a burning building to save someone's life?

The New York Times

I know we've been taking the piss out of Aol* all day, but someone in Aol PR must be drunk, because this bizarre "BREAKING: Board Has Presided over Improvement of AOL's Operating Results and Financial Strength and Unlocked over $1.7 Billion in Value in Two Years" press release just happened.

TechCrunch

The ingredients are all there, but someone really needs to work on their kitchen technique.

Huffington Post

For the Ford Fusion and the Stahl House alike, Thomas notes the "ingredients" aren't at all exotic but someone "took the time to make something special".

Huffington Post

We all want progress, but someone always loses something on the way.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "all but someone" when you want to emphasize that nearly everyone or everything is included, except for a specific individual. This can create a sense of contrast or highlight the exception.

Common error

Avoid using "all but someone" when referring to a small group, as it implies near-universal inclusion. If only a few individuals are involved, a direct statement of who is included and excluded is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "all but someone" functions as a qualifier or limiter to a general statement, indicating an exception to an otherwise inclusive situation. Ludwig AI confirms this with real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "all but someone" is a grammatically sound way to express that a statement applies to everyone or everything except for a specific individual. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides real-world examples. While its usage is neutral and more frequent in "News & Media", careful consideration should be given to the context to avoid implying near-universal inclusion when the group is small. Alternatives like "everyone except someone" or "all except for someone" can provide greater clarity depending on the intended nuance. Therefore, understanding the scope and context is key to using this phrase effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

everyone except someone

Replaces "all but" with "everyone except", focusing directly on the exception.

all except for someone

Adds "except for" for emphasis, clarifying the exclusion.

nearly everyone but someone

Uses "nearly everyone" to emphasize near-total inclusion with a specific exception.

almost everyone excluding someone

Replaces "all but" with "almost everyone excluding", making the exclusion more explicit.

with the exception of someone

Formal alternative highlighting a particular exception.

save for someone

A more concise way to indicate an exception.

barring someone

Indicates that everything is included, unless it is someone.

but not someone

Direct and simple way of stating exclusion.

aside from someone

Similar to "except for", indicating something is not included.

everything but someone

Similar to "all but", but includes everything rather than everyone.

FAQs

How can I use "all but someone" in a sentence?

Use "all but someone" to indicate that everyone, with one exception, is included in a statement or situation. For example: "The team was ready, "all but someone" had forgotten their equipment".

What's a synonym for "all but someone"?

Alternatives to "all but someone" include "everyone except someone", "all except for someone", or "nearly everyone but someone", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to use "all but someone"?

Yes, "all but someone" is grammatically correct and used to indicate an exception to an otherwise inclusive statement.

When is it best to avoid using "all but someone"?

It is best to avoid using "all but someone" when the group being referenced is small. In such cases, being explicit about who is included and who is not is often clearer.