The English language is full of confusing word pairs, especially those that sound alike but have completely different meanings and grammatical roles. One such commonly mixed-up pair is “accept” and “except.”
Here’s a simple trick to remember the difference forever:
✔ ACCEPT = AGREE / RECEIVE
Think of “accept” with an A for “agree” or “admit.”
I accept your invitation.
She accepted the award.
It’s a verb that means to receive, to agree to, or to approve.
✔ EXCEPT = EXCLUDE / NOT INCLUDING
Think of “except” with an X — like crossing something out.
Everyone is invited except John.
The shop is open every day except Sunday.
It’s usually a preposition meaning “excluding” or “not including.”
⭐ The One-Line Memory Trick:
Accept = Receive
Except = Remove
If you remember this R-R rule, you’ll never confuse the two again.
Why This Matters
Using the right word not only helps you write clearly but also avoids embarrassing grammar mistakes that can change the meaning of a sentence completely.
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