no one except for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "no one except for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a statement applies to everyone except for a specific individual or group. Example: "No one except for Sarah knew about the surprise party we were planning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

(Well, no one except for Prime Minister Tony Abbott who, commenting on a trial still before the courts, called the Chaser's Chris Kenny joke "defending the indefensible".

Vice

Well, no one except for a subset of functionally illiterate, beer-swilling frat boys who pay their poorer brothers to write their papers for them in a style that could credibly ape their largely uniformed slobbishness.

Huffington Post

We strongly suspected the stunt to be a hoax based on the fact that no one (except for celebrities who appeared to be in on the joke) had actually seen the tape, as well as other inconsistencies in their story.

Vice

No one except for Michael McGahan from Denver, Colo.

The New York Times

No one, except for perhaps Oleg Kvasha, played well.

The New York Times - Sports

No one, except for Stone, immediately identified Donald Trump as their friend.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2296/12/77/prepub Nonenelsesexceptpt for the authors made significant contributions.

BMC Family Practice

The uncertain approach to guns is good for no one, except perhaps for gunmakers, whose sales have skyrocketed.

The New York Times

Christian Parker earned his place on the mound at Yankee Stadium last night, winning a spot in the Yankees' rotation when no one -- except for him -- thought he had a chance.

The New York Times - Sports

No one died, except for the gunman.

The New York Times

No one knows, except for the people at D-Wave.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "no one except for" to clearly and explicitly state an exception to a general statement. This phrasing ensures that the exclusion is understood without ambiguity.

Common error

While grammatically correct, overusing "no one except for" can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your sentence structure by using alternatives like "nobody but" or "only" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "no one except for" functions as an exclusionary determiner phrase. It specifies that a statement is true for all individuals with the exception of the one(s) explicitly mentioned. As noted by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "no one except for" is a grammatically correct and common way to express an exception to a general statement. As Ludwig AI confirms, its use is widespread across various domains, especially in News & Media. While versatile, it's important to use the phrase judiciously and to be aware of alternative phrasings such as "nobody but" or "only" to avoid redundancy. By understanding the function, purpose, and register of this phrase, writers can effectively and appropriately convey nuanced meanings in their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nobody but

Replaces "no one except for" with "nobody" for a more concise expression of exclusion.

none other than

Emphasizes the exclusion with a slightly more formal tone.

no one other than

A more verbose but equally valid alternative to "no one except for".

only

Offers a shorter alternative, focusing on the exclusive nature of the subject.

solely

Similar to "only" but with a slightly stronger emphasis on exclusivity.

excluding

Uses a gerund to directly indicate the act of exclusion.

apart from

Indicates an exception to a general statement.

with the exception of

A formal way to indicate an exclusion.

save for

A more archaic, literary way to express "except for".

but

A simple conjunction to indicate an exception.

FAQs

How can I use "no one except for" in a sentence?

Use "no one except for" to indicate that a statement applies to everyone except a specific person or group. For example, "No one except for "Sarah" knew about the surprise party".

What are some alternatives to "no one except for"?

You can use alternatives like "nobody but", "none other than", or "only" depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "no one except for" or "nobody but"?

"No one except for" tends to be slightly more formal than "nobody but". Choose the phrasing that best suits the tone of your writing.

What's the difference between "no one except for" and "everyone but"?

"No one except for" focuses on who is excluded from a group to which a statement applies. "Everyone but" focuses on who is included. They can often be used interchangeably, but the emphasis shifts.