except for the following

USAGE SUMMARY

"except for the following" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used after a list of conditions or items to indicate that those within the list should be excluded. For example, you could say, "Everyone is expected to complete the assignment on time, except for the following students who have been given an extension."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Accept the default (ENTER key) for all questions EXCEPT for the following two questions.

WikiHow

Hybridization and detection followed the protocol developed for adult worms (Collins et al., 2013), except for the following modifications.

eLife

Weekends bring longer waits and no one jumps the line, except for the following: friends of the doorman, promoters or owners, and those getting V.I.P. bottle service.

The New York Times

Support for mobile device accounts and order & billing issues will be limited to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for the following university holidays and closed dates: Dec. 24, 25 and 31, 2018 and Jan . 1 , 2019

Stanford University

Chad Kolton, spokesman for Data Trust, did not reply to repeated e-mail and phone requests for detailed information about Data Trust, except for the following e-mail: DT (Data Trust) headed by former RNC chair Mike Duncan.

The New York Times

My father's suit, filed in 1997, was settled in 1998 for terms that were undisclosed except for the following acknowledgment: "The Sherman and Peabody characters are based upon the characters and format created by Ted Key".

The New York Times

existing use existing filesystems, except for the following: /, /usr, /usr/openwin, /opt and /var.

Duke University

The procedure was similar to that used in Experiment 1, except for the following two changes.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

The microworld was identical to that used in previous experiments, except for the following features.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

Materials and procedure were the same as the post-learning activity procedure in experiment 1, except for the following.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

McCambridge pool, so far, is generally satisfactory except for the following: Weekday swimming uses the short width of the pool, a non-standard 22 yards.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "except for the following", ensure the list that follows is clearly defined and directly related to the initial statement. This enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "except for the following" without providing a clear, subsequent list. Omitting the list leads to confusion and defeats the purpose of indicating exceptions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except for the following" functions as an introductory phrase indicating an exception or exclusion to a preceding statement. It prepares the reader for a list of items, conditions, or entities that do not conform to the general rule or condition stated. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

20%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "except for the following" is a versatile phrase used to introduce exceptions to a general statement. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. It appears most frequently in scientific, news, and academic contexts, indicating its suitability for precise and formal communication. While alternatives exist, this phrase offers clarity and directness when listing specific exclusions. When employing this phrase, ensure the subsequent list is clear and directly relevant to the initial statement to avoid ambiguity. Finally, remember that while the phrase itself is neutral, the overall tone of your writing will influence its perceived formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excluding the subsequent items

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the act of exclusion.

with the exception of the listed items

This phrase is slightly more verbose, highlighting the presence of a list.

save for the items specified

This option is more concise and uses a slightly archaic tone.

apart from what follows

This alternative is more concise and general, suitable for less formal contexts.

barring the subsequent details

This is a slightly more formal alternative, emphasizing the prevention of inclusion.

with the exclusion of these elements

This is a more emphatic and formal way to indicate exclusion.

excluding what comes next

This version is shorter and less formal, suitable for conversational contexts.

other than the enumerated items

A formal option highlighting a numbered list of exceptions.

not including the details that follow

This version emphasizes the action of not including the information.

excluding the enumerated list

This focuses on a specific list of exclusions.

FAQs

How can I use "except for the following" in a sentence?

You can use "except for the following" to introduce a list of exceptions to a general statement. For example, "All students passed the exam, except for the following: John Doe, Jane Smith, and Peter Jones."

What is an alternative to using "except for the following"?

Alternatives include phrases like "excluding the following", "with the exception of the following", or "apart from the following". Each provides a slightly different nuance but serves a similar function.

Is it better to use "except for" or "with the exception of"?

"Except for" is generally more concise and informal, while "with the exception of" is more formal. Both are grammatically correct, and the choice depends on the context and desired tone.

Can I use "except for the following" at the end of a sentence?

While it is grammatically permissible, it is generally clearer to place "except for the following" before the list of exceptions. Placing it at the end can sometimes lead to ambiguity or require the reader to re-parse the sentence.