every one except one

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "every one except one" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that all individuals or items in a group are included except for a single exception. Example: "Every one except one of the participants agreed to the terms of the contract."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

No one, except one family member, has been allowed to witness any of the legal proceedings against him.

The Guardian - Opinion

Tiny Tim's final refrain is tweaked to: "God bless us, every one, except the greedy ones who got us into this mess.

The New York Times

We're basically a one-on-one team on every down except when we're in Cover Two".

The New York Times - Sports

All classes are one-on-one except physical education, but the students do get time to interact in between classes and in the Homework Café.

Los Angeles Times

aInterviews were one-on-one, except in one community in Monrovia, where interviewers worked in pairs for security reasons.

Conflict and Health

Michael Jordan thinks he could have beaten pretty much everyone who has ever walked the planet in a game of one-on-one basketball... except one person.

Los Angeles Times

When we arrived in Vegas, we had no one to lean on except one another.

Harvard Business Review

"With Governor Perry's appearance, we have now interviewed all of the major Republican candidates in our 2012 one-on-one series except Mitt Romney," Wallace said.

HuffPost

"With Governor Perry's appearance, we have now interviewed all of the major Republican candidates in our 2012 one-on-one series except Mitt Romney," said Wallace.

Huffington Post

The United Methodist Church would agree with that … except on one day and in one scenario". .

Huffington Post

3. Don't badmouth the boss, except to her face, one-on-one.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "every one except one", ensure the context clearly defines the group being referenced to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "every one except one" when the intended exclusion is not clearly defined within the immediate context. Always ensure clarity regarding the group being referenced.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "every one except one" functions as a determiner phrase specifying quantity with a single exclusion. Ludwig provides examples where it modifies nouns, indicating a near-complete set.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "every one except one" is a versatile and grammatically sound construction used to denote near-complete inclusion with a specific exclusion. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it maintains grammatical correctness and is widely employed in diverse contexts like News & Media, Science and Academia. Alternatives such as "all but one" or "everyone but one" offer concise substitutes, while maintaining semantic equivalence. While it is used in many contexts, you should pay attention to the clarity of the set being referred to.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

all but one

This alternative is shorter and more concise.

everyone but one

This alternative focuses on people rather than items.

each except one

This highlights individuality within the group.

all but a single one

This emphasizes the singularity of the exception.

all of them except one

This alternative specifies that "them" is the group in question.

all with one exception

This phrase is more formal and emphasizes the exception.

every single one apart from one

This version emphasizes the inclusiveness of "every single one".

all save one

This is an archaic alternative with a formal tone.

with only one exception

This phrase places greater emphasis on the exception itself.

nearly all

This phrase is less precise, indicating almost the entire group.

FAQs

How can I use "every one except one" in a sentence?

You can use "every one except one" to indicate that all members of a group are included with a single exception. For example, "Every one except one of the students passed the exam".

What are some alternatives to "every one except one"?

Alternatives include "all but one", "everyone but one", or "all save one". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it more formal to say "every one except one" or "all but one"?

"Every one except one" is slightly more formal than "all but one", although both are acceptable in most contexts.

Can "every one except one" be used for both people and objects?

Yes, "every one except one" can be used to refer to both people and objects. For example, "Every one except one of the guests arrived" or "Every one except one of the books was on the shelf".