except one who

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "except one who" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that all individuals in a group are included in a statement or action, with the exception of a specific individual. Example: "Everyone was invited to the party, except one who declined the invitation due to prior commitments."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Except one, who died on Easter Sunday this year.

Huffington Post

Patients without a date of local progression were censored on the date of their last scan, except one who was censored on the date of definitive surgery.

British Journal of Cancer

When BRONJ was diagnosed, patient had been recommended to stop administration of zolendronate except one who suffered from bone metastasis on mandible (No. 12 patient).

Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

All except one, who is sitting motionless with her eyes fixed on a spot on the ceiling.

Vice

Classifiers are trained on labeled data from all patients except one who is the test patient.

BioMed Research International

All women intended to breast feed except one who had breastfed a previous baby but intended to formula feed on this occasion.

BMJ Open

All cases recovered completely, except one who had a history of asthma.

Gaceta Sanitaria

Later, there were seven arrests, and they were all released except one, who took the rap.

The New Yorker

They all order mojitos, except one, who orders a vodka tonic.

The New Yorker

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

The New York Times

The executioners who built them are all dead, except one who didn't want anything to do with it".

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "except one who", ensure the noun or pronoun that "one" refers to is clear from the context to avoid ambiguity. For instance, "All students passed the exam except one who had been ill."

Common error

Avoid vague pronoun references. Ensure that "one" clearly refers to a specific individual or entity mentioned previously. Incorrect: "The team members were present, except one who was late." Correct: "All team members were present, except for John, who was late."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except one who" functions as a relative clause introducing an exception to a general statement. As shown in Ludwig, it modifies a preceding noun or pronoun, specifying a particular individual or entity that is excluded from the overall claim. It connects two parts of a sentence, establishing a condition.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "except one who" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construct for introducing exceptions to general statements. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable across various contexts, particularly in scientific and news reporting. While simpler alternatives like "excluding one who" exist, "except one who" provides a clear and precise way to specify exclusions. When using this phrase, ensure the reference is clear and consider restructuring sentences for optimal flow. By understanding its function, purpose, and potential pitfalls, writers can effectively employ "except one who" to enhance clarity and accuracy in their communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excluding one who

This alternative directly replaces "except" with "excluding", maintaining a similar level of formality.

excluding the one who

Similar to "excluding one who", but with a slightly different emphasis.

apart from one who

This alternative uses "apart from" to indicate an exception, offering a slightly different tone.

save for one who

This alternative provides a more formal or literary way to express the exception.

with the exception of one who

This is a more verbose and formal way of saying "except one who".

besides one who

This provides a simple and direct way to express the exception.

but one who

This option is shorter and can be more direct, placing emphasis on the exception.

other than one who

This option provides a slightly more indirect way to state the exception.

one exception being

This alternative shifts the structure to highlight the exception as a separate statement.

all but one who

This focuses on the inclusion of all others, contrasting with the single exception.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "except one who" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using "with the exception of one who" or "save for one who". These alternatives add a layer of formality suitable for academic or professional contexts.

What's a simpler alternative to "except one who"?

Simpler alternatives include "excluding one who" or "apart from one who". These options maintain clarity while using more common language.

Is it grammatically correct to say "except the one who" instead of "except one who"?

While "except the one who" isn't inherently incorrect, "except one who" is generally preferred because it's more concise and idiomatic. "The one who" can sound slightly redundant unless there's a specific reason to emphasize a particular individual.

Can I use "except one who" at the beginning of a sentence?

While grammatically possible, starting a sentence with "except one who" is less common and can sound awkward. It's usually better to restructure the sentence to place the exception after the main clause for improved flow and clarity. For example, instead of "Except one who was absent, everyone attended the meeting," try "Everyone attended the meeting, except one who was absent."