except for tonight

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "except for tonight" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is not applicable for the specific time mentioned, in this case, tonight. Example: "I usually go to bed early, except for tonight when I have plans to stay out late."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"We've been playing pretty well defensively, except for tonight and the opening game," said Toronto's captain, Mats Sundin.

The New York Times - Sports

Tickets: $20, except for tonight, a benefit for Dancers Responding to AIDS, when tickets are $40 (Anderson).

The New York Times

Except for tonight's gibes and Wednesday night's hard-edged speech by Dick Cheney, his running mate, Mr. Bush and his party have tried all week to avoid the kind of sniping -- to say nothing of the internal bickering -- they know the American electorate detests.

The New York Times

The iTunes festvial will be streamed by Vevo, via its app, with the concerts beginning each night at 6 p.m. PDT, except for tonight when it kicks off at 5 30 pm.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Except for last night.

The New York Times - Sports

(3) Generally, except for early morning the experimental values are properly reproduced.

Advances in Space Research

But "I've watched every game since then except for last night".

The New York Times - Sports

Except for morning and evening rushes, when trains are mostly full, runs are typically half occupied or less.

The New York Times

As the citizens of Glasgow travel to the city centre to work, the athletes and media will be travelling the other way - except for evening events.

BBC

All TRAIL-R antibodies (Alexis Biochemicals, Exeter, UK) were used at 1 : 100 dilutions, except for DR4 (1 : 50).

British Journal of Cancer

But at the moment I don't know what's happening in Gaza except for later this morning there's the funeral of the Hamas military commander who was killed yesterday, which will be a very big event, I imagine.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "except for tonight" to clearly indicate a specific exception to a general rule or pattern. This phrasing is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid embedding "except for tonight" within already complex sentence structures. It's best used in simple, direct clauses for clarity. For example, instead of: 'Considering all factors, and despite the usual regulations except for tonight, we'll proceed,' try: 'We'll proceed. The usual regulations apply, except for tonight'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except for tonight" functions as a prepositional phrase that serves to introduce an exception to a general statement or situation. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Examples show its use in various contexts to specify a particular night as different from the norm.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "except for tonight" is a prepositional phrase used to introduce a specific exception to a general statement. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While it's suitable for various contexts, it appears most frequently in News & Media and Scientific domains. Its function is to create an exemption or qualification, indicating a temporary deviation. For alternatives, you could use "aside from tonight" or "excluding tonight". When using the phrase, ensure it adds clarity to the sentence and avoid embedding it in already complex structures.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aside from tonight

Replaces "except" with "aside", offering a slightly more informal tone.

apart from tonight

Similar to "aside from tonight", indicating separation or exclusion.

excluding tonight

Uses "excluding" to specify that tonight is not included in a general statement.

not including tonight

Similar to "excluding tonight", but potentially emphasizing the act of exclusion.

with the exception of tonight

A more formal phrasing of "except for tonight".

tonight being the exception

Emphasizes that tonight is a deviation from the norm.

tonight is an exception

States directly that tonight falls outside the general rule.

save for tonight

Uses "save" to indicate an exception, sounding slightly archaic.

but not tonight

More direct and informal way of expressing the exception.

tonight is different

A simple way to convey that tonight deviates from the usual pattern.

FAQs

How can I use "except for tonight" in a sentence?

Use "except for tonight" to specify an occasion that is an exception to a general rule or usual circumstance. For example, "I usually eat healthy, "except for tonight", when I'm having pizza."

What's a more formal alternative to "except for tonight"?

A more formal alternative is "with the exception of tonight". It carries a similar meaning but is appropriate for professional or academic writing.

Is it correct to say "except of tonight" instead of "except for tonight"?

No, the correct phrasing is "except for tonight". The preposition "for" is necessary after "except" in this context. Using "of" is grammatically incorrect.

Can I use "aside from tonight" instead of "except for tonight"?

Yes, "aside from tonight" is a suitable alternative and carries a very similar meaning. Choose the one that best fits the tone and flow of your writing.