never except

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "never except" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be a confusion of terms, as "never" and "except" do not typically work together in this way. An example of a correct phrase might be "never accept" or "always except."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

There has never been a better Maria, never, except maybe the lady herself".

The New York Times

He is always right, but never productive, never happy, and never, except momentarily, engaged.

The Guardian - Books

But he has never, except for a brief period in summer stock, returned to the stage.

The New Yorker

But perhaps, Mosby thought, a man like Lustgarten would never, except with supernatural aid, exist in a suitable form.

The New Yorker

When asked whether his client was a danger to the safety of others, Mr. Sorkin responded, "Never, except to the safety of the financial community".

The New York Times

Apropos "Tiny Alice," he writes Edward Albee, "I have enjoyed sex thoroughly, perhaps even excessively all my life but it has never, except for brief wasteful moments, twisted my reason".

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

It is manifested in the intelligent candor with which he lays bare his subjects, never excepting himself.

The New York Times - Books

He claims he never reads "except on vacation".

The New York Times

"Never… Except once, when I slipped a Luther Vandross cassette tape into my pocket and set the alarms off.

The Guardian

Never used except for decoration.

The Guardian - Arts

Mr. Obama never did, except for children.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "never except" in formal writing. Opt for more grammatically sound alternatives such as "almost never including" or restructuring the sentence for clarity.

Common error

A common mistake is using "never except" when intending to convey a rare exception. Instead, clarify your sentence structure. For example, instead of writing, "He never eats meat except chicken", write, "He rarely eats meat, and when he does, it's usually chicken".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "never except" attempts to negate a universal statement while simultaneously introducing an exception. However, Ludwig AI indicates that this construction is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "never except" is flagged by Ludwig AI as grammatically incorrect, although it appears with uncommon frequency, primarily in News & Media and Science contexts. Its intended function is to express a near-universal negation with a specific exception. However, it's advisable to avoid this phrase in formal writing. Better alternatives include "rarely including", "almost never including", or rephrasing the sentence for improved clarity. When in doubt, opting for more grammatically sound constructions will enhance the precision and credibility of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

never but

Replaces "except" with "but", which can function similarly as an exception.

almost never including

Adds emphasis on the infrequency, replacing "never" with "almost never" for nuanced meaning.

hardly ever including

Similar to rarely, but with a slightly different connotation of frequency.

rarely including

Focuses on infrequent inclusion rather than a direct negation followed by an exception.

not often including

Replaces "never" with a less absolute term and maintains the exception concept.

seldom including

Uses a more formal term for rarely, keeping the rest of the structure.

in no case except

Offers a more formal and emphatic way to state an exception.

nevertheless including

Contrasts a preceding statement, then introduces an exception. Changes the flow of information.

only ever excluding

Emphasizes exclusive behavior, limited to the cases explicitly reported.

never excluding

Expresses inclusive behavior, which is the opposite to excluding.

FAQs

What does "never except" mean?

The phrase "never except" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It seems to be an attempt to express something that almost never happens, with a specific exception. It's better to use phrases like "almost never including" or restructure the sentence for clarity.

How can I rephrase a sentence that uses "never except"?

Instead of using "never except", consider alternatives like /s/rarely+including, /s/almost+never+including, or /s/hardly+ever+including. Choose the phrase that best fits the intended meaning and context of your sentence.

Is "never except" grammatically correct?

No, "never except" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's advisable to use alternative phrasings that accurately convey the intended meaning.

What are some common mistakes people make when trying to use "never except"?

A common mistake is attempting to use "never except" to express a rare occurrence with a specific exception. To avoid this, rephrase the sentence to clearly indicate the infrequent action and the specific circumstance where it occurs. For example, instead of saying "I never go there except on Tuesdays", say "I rarely go there, and only on Tuesdays".