everything besides

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "everything besides" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when speaking about or mentioning all items, except for one or a few. For example, "I like all the ice cream flavors at the store, everything besides mint chocolate chip."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

"Money is everything besides health.

The New York Times

What drags "Louis" down is almost everything besides the music.

The New York Times - Arts

It's a person who loves everything besides hip-hop".

The Guardian - Music

"They have accused me of nearly everything besides the Hiroshima bombing," he told one interviewer.

The New Yorker

He wore a noise-cancelling headset, which blocked out nearly everything besides his heartbeat.

The New Yorker

We quickly found out the trainer was not kidding: Officers discovered that the machines were good at detecting just about everything besides cleverly hidden explosives and guns.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

I did everything I could besides beating them up.

Huffington Post

Everything else, besides her ID, stayed in her purse, which she put in the back seat.

The New York Times

She can, as Polonius would say, do 'tragicomical' and everything else besides.

The Guardian

Known for its quirky homewares, it is the place to go for biblical plates, rusty signs, vintage brandy glasses – and everything else besides.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I read this whilst pregnant and was delighted to find, hidden in the most famous European novel about adultery, illicit passion and moral codes (and almost everything else besides), Dolly's thoughts about the bleak drudgery of pregnancy and childbirth.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "everything besides" to clearly indicate a specific exception within a broader context. This helps avoid ambiguity and ensures your intended meaning is understood.

Common error

Avoid using "everything besides" in overly complex sentences where the exception could be misinterpreted. Break down the sentence for clarity or rephrase using simpler terms.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "everything besides" functions as a prepositional phrase, indicating exclusion. It modifies a noun or pronoun by specifying what is not included in a general statement. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is valid and commonly used in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

18%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "everything besides" is a grammatically sound and frequently used way to express exclusion in English. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It functions as a prepositional phrase, clarifying what is not included in a broader statement, with its primary use being to set precise exceptions. While suitable for various contexts, consider more formal options like "with the exception of" in highly academic or business settings. It's commonly found in news and media sources, and a helpful writing tip is to avoid using it in excessively complex sentences where clarity could be compromised.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

all except

Emphasizes the exclusion of a specific item from a larger group.

everything but

A more concise way of expressing the same exclusion.

all things other than

More formal and emphasizes the difference.

excluding

Directly indicates the act of leaving something out.

apart from

Indicates a separation or exception.

aside from

Similar to 'apart from', suggesting something is not included.

with the exception of

Formal way to indicate an item is not included.

save for

An older, slightly more literary way of saying 'except for'.

excluding all but

Highlights the selection of a specific item by exclusion.

leaving out

Simple and direct way to express omission.

FAQs

How can I use "everything besides" in a sentence?

Use "everything besides" to exclude specific items or categories from a broader statement. For example, "I enjoy all sports, "everything besides golf"".

What is a good alternative to "everything besides"?

Alternatives include "all except", "everything but", or "apart from", depending on the desired level of formality and context.

Is there a subtle difference between "everything besides" and "everything but"?

While they are largely interchangeable, "everything besides" might slightly emphasize the act of excluding, whereas "everything but" can feel more concise. In most contexts, the difference is negligible.

Can "everything besides" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "everything besides" is suitable for formal writing, but consider alternatives like "with the exception of" or "all things other than" for a more elevated tone.