except for for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "except for for" is not correct in standard written English.
It is generally considered a redundancy and should be avoided in formal writing. Example: "Everyone attended the meeting except for for John, who was out of town."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Academia

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

No augmented or diminished intervals are returned except for for interval of 6 which returns a diminished fifth, not augmented fourth.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The buttercream eggs can be messy things to eat, but chocolate and buttercream is usually win-win (except for for the diet...)...

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

I've slept by myself, except for rare exceptions, for almost nine years.

Huffington Post

"Evvvverybody's for amnesty except for Ted Cruz.

The New Yorker

She was irritable & arbitrary except for her compassion for marmots.

The New Yorker

Gym clothes, except for shoes, are for sale.

The New York Times - Travel

The first day he wrote steadily for eight hours, except for a break for lunch.

The New Yorker

She refused to speak to officers, except for asking for a doctor.

The Guardian

It was the first time anyone had lived here, except for vacations, for 50 years".

The New York Times - Food

Except for holes for her eyes and mouth, her face was a swath of white cloth.

The New Yorker

Free, except for a $5 materials fee for the workshop.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the redundant phrase "except for for" in your writing. Use simply "except for" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

Be careful not to repeat prepositions unnecessarily. Using "except for for" is a common mistake that creates an awkward and grammatically incorrect construction. Always double-check your sentences to eliminate any redundant words.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except for for" functions as an attempted prepositional phrase, aiming to introduce an exception. However, according to Ludwig AI, this construction is grammatically incorrect due to the redundant use of "for".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Academia

33%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

34%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "except for for" is considered grammatically incorrect due to the unnecessary repetition of "for". Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. While some instances may appear in various sources, the correct and preferred usage is simply "except for". When aiming for clarity and grammatical accuracy, it's best to avoid the redundant construction and stick to established alternatives like "aside from" or "with the exception of".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

except for

Removes the redundant "for", resulting in a grammatically correct and widely accepted phrase.

with the exception of

A more formal alternative that clearly indicates an exclusion.

apart from

Similar in meaning to "except for", but slightly less formal.

aside from

Another close synonym, offering a slightly different stylistic choice.

barring

A concise alternative that implies an exclusion or prevention.

excluding

A more direct way to state that something is not included.

save for

An alternative with a slightly archaic feel, meaning "except for".

other than

Indicates a difference or exclusion.

but for

Emphasizes the condition that causes an exception. It's less interchangeable in normal sentences.

notwithstanding

A formal term indicating that something is true despite something else.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "except for for"?

The correct way to express exclusion is to use "except for". The repetition of "for" is unnecessary and grammatically incorrect.

Are there any alternatives to "except for"?

Yes, depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "aside from", "with the exception of", or "apart from" to express similar meanings.

Is "except for for" ever appropriate in writing?

No, "except for for" is generally considered a mistake in standard written English. It's a redundancy that should be avoided in formal writing and speech.

How can I remember not to use "except for for"?

Think of "except for" as a complete phrase. The addition of a second "for" doesn't add any meaning and makes the sentence grammatically unsound.