except one friend

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "except one friend" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that all others are included in a statement or action, with the exception of a single friend. Example: "Everyone was invited to the party, except one friend who had prior commitments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

All except one friend, Duncan Eatch.

The Guardian

And then most of us had wine, except one friend who had managed to stay dry for the month of January and had posh squash.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

(Except, one friend said, to poke a bit of fun at him).

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Miss Rogers wanted to set herself up as a professional handler, but no one would hire her except one family friend.

The New Yorker

Now I am on a plane which will take me to an empty slate, where there is absolutely nothing waiting for me, except one old friend who moved there 10 years ago, and an apartment for which I have an address, a lease, and four keys.

Huffington Post

I never had to break up with any girlfriends (except one mom stalker friend, but that's another story).

Huffington Post

And all except one, my African American friend Wanda, agreed with her.

Huffington Post

My husband said go, and so did most of my friends, except one who raised the question of kidnapping.

The New York Times

If you are being stalked, you can make it so no one except friends (or best friends, or no one) can follow you by going to your account page, and scrolling to the bottom.

WikiHow

Except on one occasion.

The New York Times - Science

Glassmap is more of a "Find My Friends" type of service, except one that works cross-platform (iPhone & Android).

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "except one friend" when you want to clearly state that a particular friend is an exception to a general statement or situation. This construction is useful for avoiding ambiguity and highlighting specific exclusions.

Common error

Avoid confusing "except", which means to exclude, with "accept", which means to receive or agree to. Ensure that your sentence accurately reflects whether you are excluding a friend or acknowledging their inclusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except one friend" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun. It serves to specify an exception to a general statement, indicating that all members of a group are included except for a particular friend. Ludwig confirms this construction is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "except one friend" is a grammatically correct and useful construction for specifying an exception to a general statement. As confirmed by Ludwig, it clearly indicates that a single friend is excluded from an otherwise inclusive group. While not extremely common, it is frequently found in news and media contexts and is suitable for both formal and informal writing. Consider alternatives such as "excluding one friend" or "apart from one friend" for variety, and be mindful of the difference between "except" and "accept" to avoid confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excluding one friend

Directly states the act of excluding a friend, maintaining a similar level of formality.

apart from one friend

Indicates a separation or exception, suitable for most contexts where "except one friend" is used.

with the exception of one friend

More formal and emphasizes the specific friend who is not included.

excluding just one friend

Emphasizes that only one friend is being excluded, suggesting the rest are included.

save for one friend

A slightly more literary or old-fashioned way to express the exclusion.

but for one friend

Highlights the friend as the only factor preventing a complete inclusion.

one friend aside

Informal and concise, indicating that all but one friend are part of something.

not counting one friend

Focuses on the act of not including a particular friend in a count or consideration.

omitting one friend

Emphasizes the deliberate act of leaving out a friend.

besides one friend

Indicates that a friend is additional or separate from the rest.

FAQs

How can I use "except one friend" in a sentence?

You can use "except one friend" to indicate that all members of a group are involved in something with the exclusion of a single friend. For example, "Everyone enjoyed the party, except one friend who wasn't feeling well."

What's a good alternative to "except one friend"?

Alternatives to "except one friend" include phrases like "excluding one friend", "apart from one friend", or "with the exception of one friend", each offering a slightly different emphasis.

Is it grammatically correct to say "except for one friend"?

Yes, "except for one friend" is grammatically correct and virtually interchangeable with "except one friend". Both phrases are acceptable ways to express an exception within a group.

What is the difference between "except one friend" and "besides one friend"?

"Except one friend" indicates an exclusion, while "besides one friend" suggests addition or being separate from the group. The former means 'not including', and the latter means 'in addition to'.