except the ones

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'except the ones' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to contrast one group of things to another. For example: "I love all animals except the ones that can sting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There was no "Everybody Knows," no "Heart of Gold," no "Old Man" (except the ones on the stage).

The New Yorker

Free; materials fee, $2. Blue Eggs and Ham Most city children never have close encounters with chickens, except the ones on their dinner plates.

The New York Times - Arts

The average overlap O is the average of these row averages (or, equivalently, the average over all cells except the ones on the diagonal).

Algorithms for Molecular Biology

In Seth Williams's city, the law sees no collars, except the ones put on criminals.

The New York Times

All flies except the ones derived from Df 3R ED7665 survived on 4% sucrose.

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

Most people do not have to work on this day, except the ones who hold absolutely crucial positions, like police officers, nurses, ice-cream-truck drivers, and lifeguards.

The New Yorker

Except the ones who drive with their brights on.

The New Yorker

All the contracts, except the ones for outsourcing, are all based on oral agreements.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

"Just about every scene in that first movie, except the ones we filmed in Japan, I was visibly on cocaine," he said.

The New York Times

The person who gave up smoking, put on weight, then tried every diet going (except the ones that said you couldn't eat very much)?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Except the ones that hadn't.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "except the ones" to clearly delineate a subset of items or individuals that are excluded from a general statement. Ensure the context makes clear what "ones" refers to.

Common error

Avoid using "except the ones" without a clear antecedent. Ensure that the reader knows exactly which items or individuals are being referred to. For example, instead of saying "I like all cars except the ones," specify "I like all cars except the ones with manual transmissions."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except the ones" functions as an exception phrase. It modifies a preceding statement by singling out specific items or individuals that do not fall under the general rule or category being discussed. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

35%

Academia

22%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "except the ones" is a common and grammatically correct way to introduce an exception to a general statement. Ludwig provides numerous examples of its use in various contexts, including news, science, and academia. The phrase functions to create a distinction or limitation, clarifying the scope of a statement by explicitly excluding certain elements. While its register is generally neutral, ensuring clarity of reference is key to effective communication. Ludwig AI confirms the validity and usability of this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excluding these

Replaces "except" with "excluding" creating a more direct and succinct exception.

other than these

A common way to express exclusion using "other than".

apart from these

Uses "apart from" instead of "except," providing a similar meaning of exclusion.

aside from these

Similar to "apart from," but slightly more informal.

with the exception of these

A more formal and explicit way of stating the exception.

excluding these particular ones

Adds emphasis by specifying "particular ones".

save for these

A somewhat archaic but still valid way of indicating an exception.

but not these

A simpler and more direct way to express the exclusion.

excluding those

Using "those" instead of "these" shifts the reference slightly, depending on context.

with those being the exception

Rephrases the exception as a separate clause, changing the sentence structure.

FAQs

How do I use "except the ones" in a sentence?

Use "except the ones" to specify exclusions from a general statement. For example, "All students passed the exam "except the ones" who didn't study".

What's a simpler way to say "except the ones"?

You can use phrases like "excluding these" or "apart from these" as simpler alternatives to ""except the ones"" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "except the ones" or "except those"?

The choice between "except the ones" and "except those" depends on the context and what you're referring to. "Except those" is generally used when referring to a group previously mentioned, whereas ""except the ones"" can be more specific or explanatory.

What is the difference between "excluding the ones" and "except the ones"?

"Excluding the ones" and ""except the ones"" are often interchangeable, but "excluding" is a bit more direct and forceful. "Except" can sometimes imply a reason or condition, while "excluding" simply removes something from consideration.