not including someone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not including someone" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when specifying that a particular person is excluded from a group or situation. Example: "The meeting will be held at 10 AM, not including John, who is on vacation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Michael Carson should be there for Sucking Sherbet Lemons, and not including someone as wickedly satirical as EF Benson is a criminal mistake.

The Guardian

OK, that's not including someone who actually was NBA MVP a few years back, but sadly we never saw that version of the Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose during the tournament.

The Guardian - Sport

But that's not including someone who comes in with a private transaction.

Vice

Obama is not including someone from the other side of the aisle who has a mere philosophical difference with Progressives/Liberals and who, for example, may take a different stance on Iraq or stem cell research than we do.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

While the risks may not include someone's physical well-being, the costs of failure could be someone's livelihood or a major business failure.

Yale University

Mayor Michael Bloomberg was rightly incensed that first-round appointments did not include someone from the government or Education Department of New York City, on whose behalf this lawsuit was filed a decade ago.

The New York Times

A tutor does not include someone engaged in other academic support activities, such as mentoring and after-school program support, whose primary goal is something other than increasing academic achievement.

Cornell University

Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic leader, said addressing Congress was an honor reserved for few — past speakers have included Nelson Mandela, Vaclav Havel and Lech Walesa — and should not include someone whose statements directly contradict United States policies on issues like Hezbollah.

The New York Times

Fatima Salaria, a senior commissioning editor for the BBC, said it would have been "totally irresponsible" if the programme, which seeks to reflect the broad range of Muslim experience in the UK, had not included someone expressing such views and that Haqq was constantly opposed by the other participants throughout the two episodes.

The Guardian

This means that a woman whose pool of marriage candidates does not include someone with a college degree has good reason to be cautious about marrying, even if she gets pregnant.

Los Angeles Times

"Whatever the definition, it doesn't include someone who willingly accepted a different religion.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not including someone" when you want to explicitly state that a particular person is excluded from a group or activity. This phrasing is clear and unambiguous.

Common error

Be careful when using "not including someone" in complex sentences where the exclusion could be misinterpreted. Ensure the context makes it clear who is being excluded.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not including someone" functions as an excluding phrase, clarifying the composition of a group or the scope of an activity by explicitly stating who is not a part of it. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not including someone" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to explicitly state the exclusion of a specific individual from a group or activity. As Ludwig AI validates, the phrase is correct and usable in English. Its usage spans various contexts, from news and media to academic discussions. While other options like "excluding someone" or "apart from someone" exist, the choice depends on the desired level of formality and the specific nuance you wish to convey. Remember to use this phrase with clarity and sensitivity to avoid unintended implications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excluding someone

This alternative offers a direct synonym, focusing on the act of leaving someone out.

excluding somebody

A direct synonym to the original query, emphasizing the act of exclusion.

not counting someone

This alternative focuses on not considering someone in a count or calculation.

without including someone

This alternative places a stronger emphasis on the absence of someone's inclusion.

omitting someone

This choice implies a deliberate act of leaving someone out.

leaving someone out

This alternative provides a more colloquial way of expressing the idea of exclusion.

not considering someone

This highlights the act of not taking someone into account.

aside from someone

This alternative means 'except for' or 'apart from', indicating a slight shift in perspective.

apart from someone

Similar to "aside from someone", this indicates an exception to a general inclusion.

other than someone

This alternative specifies that everyone except a particular person is included.

FAQs

How can I use "not including someone" in a sentence?

You can use "not including someone" to specify that a person is excluded from a group or activity. For instance, "The team will consist of five members, "not including someone" who is currently on leave."

What's the difference between "excluding someone" and "not including someone"?

While both phrases convey the idea of exclusion, "excluding someone" is a more direct synonym, whereas "not including someone" provides a slight difference and it might seem like a softer approach. Semantically the phrases are almost identical but make sure to pick the one that most suits the specific context you are working on.

Is it more formal to say "excluding someone" or "not including someone"?

"Excluding someone" and "not including someone" both fit the bill, but "excluding someone" often feels slightly more direct and formal, while "not including someone" can come across as a touch more neutral.

Are there any situations where I shouldn't use "not including someone"?

Avoid using "not including someone" in situations where the exclusion might be perceived as insensitive or discriminatory. In such cases, rephrase the sentence to focus on who is included rather than who is not.