everything except

USAGE SUMMARY

"everything except" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize something in particular by specifically naming the items or situations not included in a broader group. For example, "I've tried every recipe in the cookbook, everything except for the one with anchovies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Well, everything except me.

The New Yorker

Everything, except his will.

The New York Times - Sports

Everything except this.

The New York Times - Magazine

Everything except tortillas.

The New York Times

Everything except Hamish.

The Guardian

Everything except a winner.

The Guardian - Sport

Everything except one thing.

The New Yorker

Everything except the truth.

The Guardian - Sport

She'd aced everything except math.

The New Yorker

He finds everything, except comfort.

The Guardian - Arts

Everything except the man himself.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "everything except" to clearly and concisely specify exclusions from a general statement. This helps to avoid ambiguity and ensures that your intended meaning is accurately conveyed.

Common error

Avoid using "everything except" in overly complex sentences where it can create confusion. Simplify the sentence structure or use alternative phrases like "with the exception of" for better clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "everything except" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces an exception or exclusion to a general statement. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Examples from Ludwig show it setting limitations within a broader scope.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Wiki

17%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "everything except" is a grammatically correct and very common construction used to specify exceptions to a general statement. Ludwig AI affirms its validity, and the numerous examples provided showcase its broad applicability across various contexts, particularly in news, media and scientific writing. When writing, remember to use this phrase to avoid ambiguity, but be cautious about using it in complex sentences. Alternatives like "with the exception of" may be more suitable for formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

other than

Specifies an alternative or exception.

apart from

Indicates an item or category that is not part of the main group.

aside from

Similar to "apart from", but slightly more informal.

all but

Replaces "everything" with "all", simplifying the expression of exclusion.

besides

Adds an exception after a general statement.

but not

Directly negates inclusion of specific items.

excluding

Uses a gerund to specify what is being left out.

save for

Introduces an exception to a general statement.

without

Expresses the lack of inclusion of something.

with the exception of

Uses a more formal structure to indicate what is not included.

FAQs

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

Use "everything except" to indicate that all items or aspects are included in a statement, with specific exceptions. For example, "I enjoyed "everything except" the ending of the movie."

What is a more formal alternative to "everything except"?

A more formal alternative is "with the exception of". For example, instead of saying "Everything except the main course was delicious", you could say "With the exception of the main course, everything was delicious."

Is it grammatically correct to use "everything except"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to use "everything except". It's a common and accepted phrase in English for specifying exclusions.

What's the difference between "everything except" and "all except"?

While both phrases convey a similar meaning, "everything except" typically refers to a broader or more encompassing scope than "all except". "All except" might be used when referring to a specific, countable set of items, while "everything except" can also refer to abstract concepts.