children except for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "children except for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a statement or condition applies to all children with the exception of certain individuals or groups. Example: "The event is open to all children except for those who have not registered in advance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

Gerda says she wants to see none of her father's children except for Rosie as she was the only one who visited him after he left home.

The New Yorker

Shockingly, there are no facilities in this country specifically designed for the education of ugly children, except for a few fringe programs dedicated to computers.

The New Yorker

Even though states are strapped, most are still accepting new children — except for Arizona, which has stopped enrolling children in its CHIP program.

The New York Times - Health

In the movie, intended for those who take their apple juice in sipping cups, Mr. Murphy plays an out-of-work marketing executive with no real interest in children except for his son.

The New York Times

Dr. Norbert Gleicher, medical director of the Center for Human Reproduction, a fertility and sex-selection clinic in New York and Chicago, said that from his experience, people were more inclined to want female children, except for Asians and Middle Easterners.

The New York Times

As of this year, the Jacksons had adopted all four boys as well as two girls, so the state had closed those files and would have had no reason to monitor those children, except for the fact that the Jacksons were attempting to adopt a seventh child, a 10-year-old girl.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

He had lived apart from his wife and children, except presumably for occasional visits in the course of a very busy professional life, for at least two decades.

Encyclopedia Britannica

If there is one clear lesson from social history it is that families are the worst way in which to raise a child – except for all the other ones that have been tried.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Not to make too much of the postwar housing shortage," the elder Bush has written, "but there were a dozen other veterans' families sharing the house with us -- each with one child, except for Bill and Sally Reeder, who had twins.

The New York Times

Inclusion of all randomized participants in the analysis was unclear as it was reported at different levels of analysis (cluster, household, child) except for Nicholson 2008 IND, which reported 18% average attrition bias for all the subgroups in both arms.

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

(None of her children's fathers help financially except for her youngest daughter's, Ms. Brown said).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "children except for", ensure that the exception is clearly defined and easily understood by the reader to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "children except for" with overly broad or undefined exceptions, as this can create confusion and weaken the statement's overall clarity. Always specify the group being excluded.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "children except for" functions as a prepositional modifier, specifying an exception to a general statement about children. As per Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically sound and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "children except for" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to indicate an exception within a group of children. Ludwig confirms its validity and usability. While not exceedingly common, it appears most frequently in scientific and news contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, clarity is key; ensure the exception is well-defined to avoid ambiguity. Consider alternatives like "children excluding" or "children other than" depending on the desired tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

children excluding

This alternative uses a participle to indicate exclusion.

children with the exception of

This alternative is a more formal and lengthy way of expressing the same idea.

children other than

This alternative uses "other than" to specify the exclusion.

children not including

This alternative uses a negative participle to indicate what is not included.

children save for

This alternative uses "save for" as a more concise way to express the exception.

children apart from

This alternative uses "apart from" to denote those being excluded.

all children but

This alternative is a simpler, more direct way of indicating an exception.

children less

This alternative employs "less" to subtract a specific group of children.

children omitting

This alternative utilizes the term "omitting" to specify the excluded group.

with the exclusion of children

This alternative reverses the phrase's structure while maintaining the same core meaning.

FAQs

How can I use "children except for" in a sentence?

The phrase "children except for" is used to indicate that a statement applies to all children with a specific group excluded. For example, "All the children attended the event, "children except for" those who were sick".

What are some alternatives to "children except for"?

Alternatives include "children excluding", "children other than", or "children with the exception of" depending on the level of formality required.

Is there a difference between "children except for" and "children excluding"?

While both phrases convey a similar meaning, "children excluding" is slightly more concise and informal than "children except for". The choice depends on the desired tone and context of the sentence.

Can I use "but" instead of "except for" with children?

Yes, you can use "but" in some contexts. For example, "All "children but" John attended the party". This usage is more direct but can be less formal than "except for".