but not including

USAGE SUMMARY

"but not including" is a perfectly valid and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it after a preceding clause in a sentence to emphasize the exceptions that follow. For example: "My research covers a variety of topics, but not including the South American rain forest or dinosaurs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"To: Up to but not including.

The New York Times

Reservations, $85 or $120 with wine but not including tax and tip: (212) 888-08212

The New York Times - Food

The militarised zone south of, but not including, the towns of El Borma and Dehiba.

The Guardian

The 17 countries using the single currency, led by Germany but not including Britain, clearly confront a common challenge.

The New York Times

According to Carnegie Hill Neighbors, the neighborhood extends east from Fifth Avenue up to (but not including) Third Avenue.

The New York Times

Rother is a mainly rural district in the easternmost part of Sussex surrounding (but not including) the borough of Hastings.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It then turns south, to 96th Street, then east again, up to but not including Third Avenue.

The New York Times

The zone begins in the Andean Northwest and extends along the eastern slopes of the Andes southward to, but not including, Tierra del Fuego.

Encyclopedia Britannica

All these statements assume, of course, that Israel may live in peace within its internationally recognized borders — but not including territories it occupied during the 1967 war.

The New York Times

The Commission interviewed 28 witnesses, including Mr Eshel, but not including the woman he was accused of harassing, known as R, who refused to testify.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Of the 33 (71%) authors who responded, 58% reported having further intervention information but not including it, and 70% tried to obtain information.

BMJ Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "but not including" in technical writing, ensure the excluded item is precisely defined to prevent misinterpretations.

Common error

Avoid using "but not including" when the exclusion renders the initial statement meaningless or contradictory. Ensure that the exclusion does not negate the primary subject.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but not including" functions as a coordinating conjunction phrase used to introduce an exception or exclusion to a preceding statement. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage for specifying what is not part of a larger set or category.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

8%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "but not including" serves as a coordinating conjunction used to introduce exceptions, enhancing clarity by specifying exclusions. It is deemed grammatically correct and very common according to Ludwig, fitting seamlessly into various contexts from scientific literature to news articles. Its usage is widespread across authoritative sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian. Ludwig AI highlights that the phrase effectively clarifies the scope of statements by pinpointing what is specifically excluded. While alternatives such as "except for" or "excluding" exist, "but not including" offers a more emphatic option for avoiding ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

except for

Directly specifies an exception, more concise.

excluding

A single word that conveys the same meaning of taking something out of consideration.

not counting

Focuses on omitting from a calculation or enumeration.

with the exception of

More formal and emphasizes the exception being made.

aside from

Highlights something that is separate or distinct.

other than

Indicates a difference or alternative, slightly less direct.

minus

Suggests a subtraction or removal.

without

Specifies the absence of something, implying exclusion.

not encompassing

Emphasizes that something is outside the scope.

leaving out

More casual and indicates a deliberate omission.

FAQs

How do I use "but not including" in a sentence?

Use "but not including" after a general statement to specify exceptions or exclusions. For example, "The tour includes all European countries, but not including "Russia" and "Belarus"."

What are some alternatives to "but not including"?

Alternatives include "except for", "excluding", or "not counting", depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "excluding" and "but not including"?

"Excluding" is a more concise way of expressing the same idea as "but not including". The latter is slightly more emphatic and can be useful for avoiding ambiguity.

Can "but not including" be used at the beginning of a sentence?

No, "but not including" is a coordinating conjunction phrase that should follow the main clause to introduce an exception. It can't start a sentence.