everything except a few

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "everything except a few" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that all items or elements are included except for a small number of exceptions. Example: "I packed everything except a few essentials that I needed for the trip."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

I sold everything except a few clothes.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He left behind everything except a few books: two volumes by Barack Obama, one by Nelson Mandela, and a textbook called "Learn French in Three Months".

The New Yorker

At Jason's, a chain of delis with 200 restaurants in 27 states, cane sugar has replaced high-fructose corn syrup in everything except a few carbonated beverages.

The New York Times - Food

Cruz's attorneys, Robert C. Rosen and John B. Wallace, say in court papers that Turner changed her will before she died, disinheriting her daughter, Cheryl Crane, and leaving everything except a few personal items to Cruz.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Everything, except for a few of the short stories.

The New York Times - Books

As far as the current situation for Flatiron goes, everything looks promising except a few minor issues.

Forbes

I had everything returned to me except a few miscellaneous items including my sneakers, which I believe one of the assailants was wearing in the police line up.

Vice

Everything seems a few seasons ahead.

The New Yorker

The whirlwind has consumed everything except the few belongings he could smuggle out of the country – not least a small computer drive.

The Guardian

Then, when it's done, you forgot everything except the few good cracks you made and the number of followers you gained.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Everything was just a few weeks away.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "everything except a few", ensure that the exceptions are clearly understood or can be easily inferred from the context to avoid confusion.

Common error

Avoid using "everything except a few" if the exceptions are significant or numerous, as this can mislead the reader. Instead, list the included items specifically.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "everything except a few" functions as a quantifier with an exception. It modifies a noun or pronoun by indicating that all items or aspects are included, with a small number of specific exceptions. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples of its usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "everything except a few" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that indicates near-total inclusion with minor exceptions. Ludwig AI supports its correctness and provides numerous examples across various contexts. It’s particularly prevalent in news and media, as well as academic writing. When employing this phrase, clarity is key, ensuring that the exceptions are easily understood or readily apparent to the reader to prevent ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

all but a few

Replaces "everything" with "all", emphasizing the comprehensiveness with minor exclusions.

nearly everything with few exceptions

Adds emphasis to the near-completeness of the inclusion, specifying that there are exceptions.

almost everything apart from a few

Uses "almost" instead of "everything" to soften the statement and "apart from" to introduce the exceptions.

everything save a few

Uses "save" as a more formal and slightly archaic alternative to "except".

virtually everything excluding a few

Substitutes "virtually" for "everything", suggesting a negligible difference, and "excluding" for "except".

practically everything barring a few

Uses "practically" to imply a minor deviation from complete inclusion and "barring" as a synonym for "except".

the majority of things except a few

Rephrases the concept to focus on the "majority" rather than "everything", indicating a substantial but not complete inclusion.

most things with only a few exceptions

Similar to "the majority of things", emphasizing that only a small number are excluded.

everything with limited exceptions

More concisely describes the concept using "limited exceptions" instead of "a few".

everything less a handful

Uses "less a handful" to suggest a small and easily countable number of exceptions.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "everything except a few" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives such as "all but a few" or "nearly everything with few exceptions".

Is it grammatically correct to say "everything except a few"?

Yes, the phrase "everything except a few" is grammatically correct and widely used in both formal and informal contexts.

What's the difference between "everything except a few" and "almost everything"?

"Everything except a few" specifies that a very small number of items are excluded, while "almost everything" ("almost everything") is a more general statement that doesn't specify the number of exceptions.

When should I use "everything except a few" instead of listing the included items?

Use "everything except a few" when it's more concise than listing the included items, especially if the number of exceptions is significantly smaller than the total number of items.