free except for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "free except for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is available at no cost, with the exception of certain conditions or items that may incur a charge. Example: "The museum is free except for special exhibitions, which require a ticket."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

£3,000, commission free, except for sterling (1.5%).

The Guardian - Travel

All performances free except for admission charges at individual institutions.

The New York Times - Arts

Free, except for a $5 materials fee for the workshop.

The New York Times - Arts

Everything in the school is free except for snacks.

The New York Times

We went in and just sat there listening in awe — free (except for a donation).

The New York Times - Travel

Admission is free except for some temporary exhibitions; (44-131) 624-6200, www.orgionalgalleries.org.org

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

With Android's popularity and free-except-for-patent-licensing price tag and Windows Phone 7 floating around as an alternative, webOS licenses would be a rather hard sell.

TechCrunch

And it is maintenance-free, except for mowing in late winter or early spring.

The New York Times - Style

I had gone through a divorce and just disentangled myself and was debt-free except for a mortgage.

The New York Times - Magazine

But municipals, tax-free except for capital gains (and the alternative minimum tax) currently yield nearly as much.

The New York Times

They were none too kind to 900 Fifth, which they called "detail-free except for two massively scaled, crudely detailed polygonal bays".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "free except for", ensure the exceptions are clearly and specifically stated to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "free except for" without clearly specifying what the exceptions are. For example, instead of saying "Admission is free except for some events", specify which events require a ticket.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "free except for" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or verb, indicating a condition or limitation to the state of being free. Ludwig AI states that this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "free except for" is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate that something is generally free of charge, but with certain limitations or exceptions. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is widely used and understood across various contexts. It is important to clearly specify these exceptions to avoid confusion. Related phrases include "free excluding" and "free with the exception of", which offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. Overall, "free except for" is a useful tool for conveying conditional cost information in a clear and concise manner.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

free excluding

Replaces 'except for' with 'excluding', maintaining the core meaning but with a slightly different emphasis.

free with the exception of

A more formal and emphatic way of expressing the same concept.

free apart from

Uses 'apart from' to indicate the exception, offering a slightly different phrasing.

no charge except for

Replaces 'free' with 'no charge', clarifying that there is no cost involved, but exceptions exist.

free of cost except for

Emphasizes the lack of cost before stating the exceptions.

at no cost except for

Similar to 'no charge', this highlights the absence of cost, with exceptions noted.

gratis except for

Uses the less common 'gratis' to mean free, making the phrase slightly more formal.

complimentary except for

A more formal synonym for 'free', suitable for professional contexts.

without fee except for

Emphasizes the absence of a fee, followed by the exceptions.

free save for

Uses the less common 'save for', similar to 'except for'.

FAQs

How can I use "free except for" in a sentence?

The phrase "free except for" is used to indicate that something is generally free but has certain exceptions or conditions. For example, "The museum is free except for special exhibits".

What's a good alternative to "free except for"?

You can use alternatives like "free excluding", "free with the exception of", or "free apart from" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "free except for"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. It's a common and accepted way to express that something is free with certain limitations or exceptions.

What is the difference between "free except for" and "completely free"?

"Free except for" means that something is free under certain conditions, while "completely free" implies there are no costs or conditions whatsoever. The former has exceptions, the latter does not.