ladies except for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ladies except for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when specifying a group of women while excluding certain individuals from that group. Example: "The event is open to all ladies except for those who have not RSVP'd."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

As Nell, she sits rooted in a chair at the start, in tattered clothes that make her look like a bag lady, except for the flourish of a brightly colored head scarf.

The New York Times

The place of a peer in the order for gentlemen is taken by his wife in the order for ladies, except that a Dowager peeress of a particular title precedes the present holder of the same title.

Wikipedia

The New Yorker, September 12 , 1942P. 9 A lady came out of her big apartment house near Rittenhouse Square - a very well dressed lady indeed except for the fact that her dress wasn't buttoned up in the back.

The New Yorker

He seemed like a typical pastor, the kind who drinks tea with old ladies on Sundays – except for the large handgun strapped to his leg.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I don't know where else the first lady comes from, except for attacking me and trying to distort my record; that's what she's been doing for most of this campaign," Mr. Lazio said.

The New York Times

A lady starts off naked except for flesh-colored panties, preggers as an opossum in spring, along her thigh tiny white plastic horses grazing on shimmering fake moss mounted among a forest of model railroad-size trees.

Vice

Soon the speeches and introductions began, except for one "Ladies and Gentlemen," all in Hungarian.

Huffington Post

Except for the lady I was visiting, widow of a comics artist.

The New York Times - Books

By Howard Moss and Geoffrey T. Hellman The New Yorker, October 4, 1952 P. 24 The Union Library Association, of East Twenty-fourth Street, lists in its latest catalogue "Lady Chatterley's Lover," unabridged except for the censored passages".

The New Yorker

The street is deserted, except for a lady in the graveyard tending to some flowers at a headstone.

Vice

Although I could not personally identify with any of these women (well except for the lady in the housekeeping department who was cranky but accommodating -- LOL), I was deeply moved by the story.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ladies except for", ensure the exception is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The conference is open to all ladies except for those who are already presenting."

Common error

Avoid vague exceptions. Instead of saying "Ladies except for a few", specify who those few are to maintain clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ladies except for" functions as a prepositional phrase used to introduce an exception to a general statement about women. It specifies a subset of ladies that are not included in the aforementioned context. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its grammatical status is correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ladies except for" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to specify a group of women with certain exclusions. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is appropriate across various contexts, although not exceedingly common. It functions to clarify a statement's scope and is most frequently found in News & Media and Wiki sources. When using this phrase, clarity is key to avoiding ambiguity. Alternatives such as "ladies excluding" or "ladies but not including" may be more suitable depending on the desired tone and context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Ladies excluding

Directly replaces "except for" with "excluding", creating a more concise exclusion.

Ladies but not including

Replaces "except for" with a more explicit negative inclusion.

All ladies with the exception of

Adds formality by using "with the exception of".

Ladies save for

Uses "save for" as a more archaic or literary alternative to "except for".

Ladies apart from

Employs "apart from" to indicate exclusion.

Ladies other than

Uses "other than" for a more formal exclusion.

Ladies not counting

Replaces "except for" with "not counting", providing a more casual tone.

Ladies less

A shortened, less common way to express exclusion.

Ladies without

Indicates the absence of specific ladies from a group.

Excluding certain ladies

A more general phrasing emphasizing the exclusion of specific individuals.

FAQs

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

Use "ladies except for" to specify a group of women while excluding certain individuals or categories. For example, "The event is for ladies except for staff members." It's crucial to clearly define who is being excluded to avoid confusion.

What are some alternatives to "ladies except for"?

You can use alternatives such as "ladies excluding", "ladies but not including", or "all ladies with the exception of" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

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

Yes, "ladies except for" is grammatically correct. The phrase is used to indicate that a statement applies to all women with certain exceptions. It follows standard English grammar rules for prepositional phrases.

When is it appropriate to use "ladies except for" instead of just "ladies"?

Use "ladies except for" when you want to specifically exclude certain women from a general statement or invitation. This clarifies that not all women are included in the statement, making the message more precise. Otherwise, you can use the simpler phrase "ladies".