except the truth

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "except the truth" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that everything else is included or considered, but the truth is excluded from that consideration. Example: "He told me everything about the situation, except the truth."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Everything except the truth.

The Guardian - Sport

For him, there was no religion except the truth.

The New Yorker

Except the truth is that I noticed, and that's -- or so I tell myself -- what really matters.

The New York Times - Magazine

Except the truth turns out to be rather different, according to the Romanian labourers, who say they travelled to the UK on the promise of £40 for eight hours work picking beans.

The Guardian

When the newspapermen twist her concern for Earl into something from Page Six, her words — "I never said I loved Earl Williams and was willing to marry him on the gallows" — resonate both as a plot point and as a portrait of innocence; Mollie's a literalist, because she has so little to hang on to, except the truth of her feelings.

The New Yorker

At this point, there wasn't anything else for me to say except the truth.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Except maybe the truth lies somewhere else.

BBC

Treat him the way you always would, except tell the truth this time.

WikiHow

Alexander Pope made that observation almost 300 years ago, and there is nothing we would add to it except: Ain't it the truth.

The New York Times

Sometimes a person who is really an atheist may describe herself, even passionately, as an agnostic because of unreasonable generalised philosophical scepticism which would preclude us from saying that we know anything whatever except perhaps the truths of mathematics and formal logic.

SEP

Scottish philosopher J. J. C. Smart even argues that "sometimes a person who is really an atheist may describe herself, even passionately, as an agnostic because of unreasonable generalised philosophical skepticism which would preclude us from saying that we know anything whatever, except perhaps the truths of mathematics and formal logic".

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the formality of your writing. While "except the truth" is generally acceptable, more formal alternatives like "with the exception of the truth" might be more appropriate for academic or professional contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "except the truth" when you intend to directly contradict a statement. This phrase works best when acknowledging something while excluding the element of truth. For direct contradictions, use phrases like "that's not true" or "actually".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "except the truth" typically functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun, indicating an exclusion or exception. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound. Examples in the provided texts illustrate its use in setting a contrast or limitation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

29%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "except the truth" functions as a prepositional phrase used to exclude or set a boundary by omitting the truth, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While grammatically correct and versatile across different registers, it's essential to ensure clarity and consider the formality of your writing when using this phrase. Alternatives such as "apart from the truth" or "excluding the truth" may be more suitable in certain contexts. The frequency of "except the truth" is uncommon and often encountered in news and media outlets.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

apart from the truth

This alternative maintains a similar semantic meaning, replacing "except" with "apart from" while retaining the focus on excluding the truth.

excluding the truth

This alternative directly replaces "except" with "excluding", emphasizing the act of omitting the truth.

but not the truth

This alternative uses a contrasting conjunction to highlight the exclusion of the truth.

save for the truth

This alternative uses "save for" as a slightly more formal substitute for "except", indicating a condition or exception.

with the exception of the truth

This alternative offers a more formal and explicit way of stating the exception of the truth.

aside from the truth

Similar to "apart from", this alternative indicates that everything is included or considered, except for the truth.

barring the truth

This alternative conveys a sense of prohibition or exclusion of the truth.

omitting the truth

Focuses on the act of leaving out the truth, rather than just being an exception.

lacking in truth

Shifts the focus to a deficiency or absence of truth in a situation.

excluding factual information

This alternative substitutes "the truth" with the broader term "factual information", expanding the scope of what's being excluded.

FAQs

What does "except the truth" mean?

The phrase "except the truth" means that everything else is included or considered, but the truth is specifically excluded from that consideration. It implies an omission or a deliberate avoidance of factual information.

How can I use "except the truth" in a sentence?

You can use "except the truth" to indicate that a statement is complete in all aspects "apart from the truth", suggesting a deliberate or unintentional omission. For example, "He told me everything about the situation, except the truth."

What are some alternatives to "except the truth"?

Alternatives to "except the truth" include "excluding the truth", "apart from the truth", or "with the exception of the truth". The best choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

Is "except the truth" grammatically correct?

Yes, "except the truth" is grammatically correct. The word "except" functions as a preposition, and "the truth" serves as the object of the preposition, forming a valid prepositional phrase.