save for

USAGE SUMMARY

"save for" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used to mean "except for" or "apart from". Example sentence: "Everyone has already finished the assignment, save for John."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Save for college too".

The New York Times

I'm trying to save for college.

The New York Times

"Unremarkable", save for one major exception.

Independent

Unremarkable, that is, save for one detail.

The Economist

Consumers save for the next rainy day.

The Economist

Please save for your records.

Cornell University

Take this save, for example:.

The Guardian - Sport

Why don't we save for the future?

Stanford University

These investors need to save for retirement.

The New York Times

"Make sure you save for college".

The New York Times

Scenes unfold without interruption, save for intermission.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In financial contexts, clarify the purpose for which you are saving. For instance, instead of saying "save for later", specify "save for retirement" or "save for a down payment".

Common error

Avoid using "save for" in contexts where the reader might misunderstand it to mean only saving money. If you intend to convey 'except for', ensure the surrounding sentence structure prevents financial interpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "save for" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase, indicating either an exception or a purpose for saving. As Ludwig AI points out, it can mean both 'except for' and 'to accumulate resources'. The meaning is typically inferred from the context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

23%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "save for" is a versatile prepositional phrase that can mean either 'except for' or 'to set aside resources'. As noted by Ludwig AI, its interpretation depends heavily on the context. It is commonly found in news, academic writing, and general usage, reflecting its neutral register. While it is essential to ensure clarity to avoid ambiguity, particularly in financial contexts, the phrase remains a valuable and widely used component of English vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

except for

This alternative directly replaces "save for" when indicating an exception.

apart from

Similar to "except for", this indicates exclusion or setting aside something.

with the exception of

A more formal way to express "except for".

excluding

Explicitly states that something is not included.

besides

Suggests an addition or inclusion alongside the main point, slightly different from a strict exception.

other than

Similar to "except for", but can also introduce an alternative.

reserving for

Implies setting something aside for a specific purpose.

putting aside for

Similar to reserving, but less formal.

setting aside for

Emphasizes the act of deliberately allocating something.

keeping for

Suggests retaining something for future use.

FAQs

How can I use "save for" in a sentence?

"Save for" can be used to mean 'except for', as in "Everyone enjoyed the movie, "save for" John, who found it boring." It can also refer to putting something aside for later use, such as "I "save for" retirement each month."

What can I say instead of "save for"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "except for", "apart from", or "besides". For financial saving, phrases like "set aside for" or "reserve for" work well.

Which is correct, "save for" or "except for"?

Both ""save for"" and "except for" are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. "Save for" can have dual meanings (financial saving and making exceptions), while "except for" is primarily used to indicate an exception.

What's the difference between "save for" and "keep for"?

"Save for" implies setting something aside, often with a specific goal in mind, or it means "except". "Keep for" simply means to retain something for later use without necessarily having a specific purpose.