Time for another comparisons / common mistakes post, as I had a few requests towards the end of last year regarding some commonly confused words.

Today’s ones look very similar (and can sound very similar) but have very different meanings, so they’re good to compare!

So, what’s the difference between accept, except and expect? Let’s take a look.

reFirst of all, here are three examples to get you started. From this, you may immediately notice the difference:

• I accepted an invitation to dinner.
• Everyone was invited except for my cousin, Stan.
• I expect Stan will be disappointed.

The first thing you might note is that one of these words is grammatically different: accept and expect are verbs, but except is a preposition (though it can also be used as a conjunction).

How do we use “accept”?

Accept means to agree to receive something. In other words, it is to take something that is offered.

• She accepted the reward for being the best student.
• The town accepted an offer of aid from the government.
• The gifts were accepted by the children.

It can also be used in a similar abstract sense, to come to realise or believe a viewpoint that is offered.

• I did not agree at first, but I came to accept my father’s viewpoint.
• The council accepted the idea that more money should be paid to nurses.

Accept can be used with or without an object. Without an object, it falls into an interesting group of verbs that complete their action by being stated (i.e. by saying it, the subject agrees to accept what is offered).

• “What do you say to our offer?” “I accept!”

How do we use “except”?

Except is used as a preposition to mean excluding (not including) or but not (sometimes also connected with for).

• I like all vegetables except (for) mushrooms.

It can also be used as conjunction, essentially meaning but.

• Jim was prepared to go to the party, except his mother would not let him.
• She did not want to read the article, except people kept telling her to.

Except can also connect clauses before other conjunctions, such as that, when and if. The different meanings are shown in these examples:

• No one knew anything about the man, except that he was very tall and wore strange hats. (meaning only that or apart from that)
• Sally enjoyed walking, except when it was raining. (meaning unless)
• You must not answer the phone, except if I say so so. (meaning unless)

How do we use “expect”?

Expect is a verb that means to anticipate, or in other words to think something is likely to happen. It can be used with noun phrases (to expect something at a certain time or in a certain place) or verb clauses (to expect an event to happen).

• We’re expecting a hundred guests at our wedding.
• I expect it will rain later.
• The baker expected most of his customers to arrive before lunchtime.

It can also be used to simply suggest someone or something will arrive (this may be clear in context, but if it is not you might add “to arrive” to clarify).

• Gina was expecting a delivery.
• The townsfolk eagerly expected the Pope (to arrive).

Without an object, this meaning may specifically refer to pregnancy (i.e. expecting a child).

• I have news: we’re expecting! (i.e. We are pregnant.)

(Sidenote on pregnancy: a plural may be used to mean a couple is pregnant, as they will have a child together, even if only one person is physically pregnant.)

How to recognise the difference between accept, except and expect

Hopefully these definitions and examples will help you recognise how the three words work differently, but here are a few extra points to help.

Firstly, the pronunciation is slightly different – expect, of course, has a different order of letters, while accept and except should have a slightly different vowel sound, as the stress is on the first syllable. This may not always be clearly pronounced, though.

The next thing to look for is where the words function in a sentence: you can choose between using accept, expect and except by asking if you need a verb or a preposition or conjunction; likewise, try to identify them in a sentence by asking if they function as a verb, preposition or conjunction.

To choose between accept and expect as verbs, try and remember if you are talking about receiving (accept) or future predictions (expect). Perhaps a mnemonic can help here, to recall how they start, such as ACCept starts like ASK, as in the subject is ASKED to receive (offered). That’s just a quick suggestion, whatever works for you!

If you have any thoughts or questions, as always, please comment below!

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