everyone but

USAGE SUMMARY

"everyone but" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to talk about a group of people in which everyone fits the description given except a single person or small group. For example: "Everyone but Sarah was able to complete the project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's about everyone BUT you.

Huffington Post

Everyone but me.

The New York Times

Not everyone, but anyone.

The New York Times - Arts

"Everyone but us".

The New Yorker

Everyone but the motorist".

The New York Times

Everyone, but everyone, clicked "accept".

The Guardian - Tech

Everyone but the actors.

The New York Times

Everyone but the coach.

The New York Times - Sports

Everyone but Chloe.

The New Yorker

Eleven men — everyone but him — died.

The New Yorker

The bullets hit everyone but me.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "everyone but", ensure the exception is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For instance, "Everyone but John attended the meeting" is clearer than "Everyone attended, but not everyone."

Common error

Avoid using "everyone but" when referring to a collective noun where individual exceptions are irrelevant. For example, saying "The team, everyone but the coach, celebrated" is less precise than specifying individuals' actions within the team.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "everyone but" functions as an excluding conjunction. It specifies that all members of a group are included in a statement, except for the individual or group mentioned after "but". Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

97%

Wiki

2%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "everyone but" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that nearly all members of a group are included in a statement, with a specific exception noted. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is most commonly found in news and media sources and maintains a neutral register, suitable for a wide range of communication. When using this phrase, clarity is key; ensure that the exception is well-defined to prevent ambiguity. While alternatives like "all except" exist, "everyone but" remains a clear and common choice for expressing exceptions within a group.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

all except

Replaces "everyone" with "all", focusing on the exclusion.

everybody excluding

Emphasizes the act of excluding someone from the group.

no one other than

Highlights the exclusivity of a specific person or group.

all people apart from

Formally indicates an exception to a general statement about people.

each and every one excluding

Strengthens the "everyone" aspect before exclusion.

with the exception of everyone but

Adds formal framing to the exclusion.

all individuals save

Uses "save" to mean "except", providing a slightly archaic tone.

every single person but

Emphasizes each person's inclusion before the exception.

excluding everyone else but

Focuses on the exclusion of everyone else besides the specific person.

nobody except

Directly contrasts nobody with the exception.

FAQs

How to use "everyone but" in a sentence?

Use "everyone but" to indicate that all members of a group, with a specified exception, are included in an action or description. For example, "Everyone but John liked the movie".

What can I say instead of "everyone but"?

You can use alternatives like "all except", "everybody excluding", or "no one other than depending on the context".

Which is correct, "everyone but" or "every one but"?

"Everyone but" is generally preferred and more common. "Every one but" can be used, but it might sound slightly more formal or emphatic, though less frequent in everyday usage.

What's the difference between "everyone but" and "nobody but"?

"Everyone but" indicates that all members of a group, except one, are included, whereas "nobody but" indicates that no one except the specified person is included. They have opposite meanings: "Everyone but me went" means everyone else went, and "Nobody but me went" means I was the only one who went.