except for watches

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "except for watches" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that all items or categories are included in a statement, with the exception of watches. Example: "I have all the accessories I need for the trip, except for watches."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The cost of production is not usually a prime concern and capital investment is generally modest, except for watches.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

He spent the break away from baseball, except for watching videotape of his swing while with Cleveland, where he played the past three years with great success.

The New York Times - Sports

We don't have any film theaters in Saudi but we do have a lot of DVD stores because there is no entertainment basically, except for watching films at home.

Huffington Post

Waist circumference varied by age among male and it took inverted U-shape except for WATCH, while among female it took inverted U-shape except for Vadu, Chillilab and Kanchanaburi (results not shown).

Global Health Action

The subject lies supine and fully clothed, except for belts, watches, and shoes, while the therapist proceeds with an evaluation of the craniosacral system.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

No one, except for the watching media, seemed aware Charles and Camilla were inside.

The Guardian

The men of the town flew to California; the women, except for one, watched the bout on television.

The New York Times

He wasn't particularly interested in fashion growing up Calgary, Canada, except for religiously watching a fashion TV show hosted by the fashion writer Tim Blanks (now at BoF).

The Guardian

The sidelines incubate a certain intimacy among women who have nothing in common except for having watched one another's children play soccer, game after game, season after season.

The New York Times

The episode begins with the family, except for Marge, watching a parody of the show Dinosaurs on television.

Wikipedia

After the ceremony I go to Stephen's car, which is where I'll sleep tonight, and take off my clothes, except for my watch, shoes, and camera.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "except for watches", verify that the remaining elements in your statement still hold true and make sense without watches. This maintains the logical consistency of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "except for watches" if the statement is meant to apply only to watches. Reframe the sentence to focus solely on watches to avoid confusion and enhance clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except for watches" functions as a prepositional phrase that serves to introduce an exception to a general statement. As Ludwig indicates, this phrase is grammatically correct and acts as a modifier, limiting the scope of the statement it accompanies.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "except for watches" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to introduce a specific exception. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English. While relatively rare, it's found in both News & Media and Science contexts. When writing, ensure that its inclusion adds clarity and doesn't create ambiguity. For more formal contexts, consider "with the exception of watches".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excluding watches

Focuses more directly on the act of exclusion.

aside from watches

Offers a slightly more informal tone, emphasizing what remains after the exception.

barring watches

Implies a more formal or legalistic exclusion.

save for watches

Adds a touch of old-fashioned formality.

with the exception of watches

More verbose but very explicit and formal.

but not watches

A simple and direct way to indicate exclusion.

exclusive of watches

Formal and technical, often used in legal or business contexts.

omitting watches

Highlights the act of leaving something out.

not counting watches

Informal and focuses on numerical exclusion.

minus watches

Direct and simple, often used in a mathematical sense.

FAQs

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

You can use "except for watches" to exclude watches from a general statement, such as, "I have all the accessories I need for the trip, "except for watches"."

What's a more formal way to say "except for watches"?

A more formal alternative is "with the exception of watches", which provides the same meaning in a more structured manner. The same concept could be expressed by saying "excluding watches".

Is it correct to say "excepting watches" instead of "except for watches"?

While "excepting" can function as a preposition, "except for watches" is generally more common and widely accepted in contemporary English. For more formal contexts, "with the exception of watches" is preferable.

What words are similar to "except for watches"?

Synonyms include "aside from watches", "save for watches", or "exclusive of watches", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.