Accept | except

Accept and except have very different meanings, but because the sound so similar in speech they cause problems for students.

Accept

A verb meaning to agree to something, to agree to take something or (in other words) to receive something. It also means to acknowledge something as truth.

I humbly accept this bravery award (but anyone would have done the same in my position).

Many people do not accept Darwin's Theory of Evolution.

Except is a preposition, which means not including, apart from.

Its noun form is exception as in when someone makes an exception.

Everyone else was chosen for the team except me.

I bought a gift for everyone except Katherine.

Except also means other than and behaves a little like but or however when used as a conjunction.

I would go skydiving, except I'm terrified of heights.

There is a rare exception with except, which is sometimes (and rarely) uses as a verb that means to leave out or exclude.

No vehicles may use this lane, buses excepted.