except for you

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "except for you" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to emphasize that a statement does not apply to a specific person, or that a group of people does not include a particular individual. For example: "Everyone was required to bring a pie to the picnic, except for you."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Except for you, of course".

The New Yorker

Except for, you know, like I said, the polite interrogations".

The New York Times - Magazine

Except for You, all my horses got bad draws.

The New York Times - Sports

Thanks for your e-mails (except for you, Mac Millings).

The Guardian - Sport

This is a gift for everyone except for you.

The Guardian - Sport

Our lives are rich, except for you not being here to share them with us.

The New York Times

But he added, "It seems like everyone is hurting except for you".

The New York Times

Well, except for you, apparently, or you wouldn't have left the Tampa Bay Rays for the Cubs.

The Guardian - Sport

The Gansevoort is beautiful, the linens are sumptuous, and the staff is pitch-perfect (except for you, Ms. Core Fusion).

The New York Times - Travel

And you know what, you're right – it must be, because there's no one here; the whole park is empty except for you and me, so I apologize".

The Guardian - Books

For his part, Po is struck almost dumb at meeting his legendary heroes in the flesh: "Wow, you guys are so much bigger than your action figures, except for you, Mantis, you're about the same size".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "except for you" to clearly and directly indicate that a statement or situation does not apply to the person being addressed, ensuring clarity and avoiding ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "except for you" when making broad, sweeping generalizations. This phrase is best used when you want to specifically exclude someone from a statement that generally applies to others.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except for you" functions as a prepositional phrase that serves to exclude a specific individual from a general statement or situation. As Ludwig AI explains, it emphasizes that the statement does not apply to a specific person.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

82%

Wiki

9%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "except for you" is a grammatically correct and very common prepositional phrase used to explicitly exclude an individual from a general statement or situation. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. The phrase is appropriate for a neutral register and is frequently found in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, ensure it clearly indicates the intended exception to avoid ambiguity. Consider alternatives like "apart from you" or "excluding you" for slight variations in tone or formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

apart from you

Indicates a similar sense of exclusion, focusing on setting someone aside from a general statement.

excluding you

Directly specifies that someone is not included in a group or statement.

other than you

Similar to "apart from you", denoting a person outside of a general group.

with the exception of you

More formal way of expressing the exclusion of a specific person.

not including you

Clearly states that someone is not part of a collective.

save for you

A slightly more archaic, yet still valid, way to express exception.

besides you

Indicates addition or exception depending on context, but can be used to specify someone separate from a group.

but you

A simpler, more direct way to indicate an exception.

you aside

Shorter, more informal way to set someone apart.

lest you

Implies 'for fear that' something will happen to the person, different construction but communicates something that applies only to a specific individual.

FAQs

How do I use "except for you" in a sentence?

Use "except for you" to specify someone is excluded from a general statement. For example, "Everyone is invited, "except for you", because you already know the details."

What are some alternatives to saying "except for you"?

You can use alternatives such as "apart from you", "excluding you", or "with the exception of you" depending on the context and formality level.

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

While 'excepting' can function as a preposition, "except for you" is generally preferred and more common in contemporary English. 'Excepting you' might sound somewhat archaic or formal.

What's the difference between "except for you" and "besides you"?

"Except for you" specifically excludes someone from a group or statement. "Besides you" can mean 'in addition to you' or 'other than you', depending on the context, so it can be ambiguous. Use "except for you" when you want to clearly indicate exclusion.