Except vs. Expect

Attribute	Except	Expect
Definition	to exclude or leave out	to anticipate or look forward to
Spelling	ends with "cept"	ends with "pect"
Usage	used in negative contexts	used in positive contexts
Common Phrases	except for, with the exception of	expect the unexpected, know what to expect

Definition

Except and expect are two words that are often confused due to their similar spellings. However, they have very different meanings and are used in different contexts. The word "except" is a preposition that means excluding or not including something. It is used to indicate that something is not included in a particular statement or list. On the other hand, "expect" is a verb that means to anticipate or look forward to something happening. It is used to express a belief that something will happen in the future.

Usage

Except is commonly used to indicate exclusions or exceptions in a sentence. For example, "I like all fruits except bananas." In this sentence, bananas are excluded from the list of fruits that the speaker likes. Expect, on the other hand, is used to show anticipation or belief in something happening. For example, "I expect the package to arrive tomorrow." In this sentence, the speaker believes that the package will arrive the next day.

Grammar

Except is often used as a preposition followed by a noun or pronoun. It is used to introduce a clause that excludes something from a statement. For example, "Everyone is going to the party except John." In this sentence, John is excluded from the group going to the party. Expect, on the other hand, is a verb that is followed by a noun or pronoun and expresses anticipation or belief in something happening. For example, "I expect good news soon." In this sentence, the speaker anticipates receiving good news in the near future.

Common Mistakes

One common mistake that people make is using "except" when they mean "expect" and vice versa. This can lead to confusion and miscommunication in written and spoken language. For example, saying "I except the meeting to be productive" instead of "I expect the meeting to be productive" changes the meaning of the sentence entirely. Another common mistake is using "except for" when "except" is the correct word to use. For example, saying "I like all fruits except for bananas" is incorrect; the correct sentence is "I like all fruits except bananas."

Examples

Here are some examples to illustrate the difference between except and expect:

• Incorrect: "I except to see you at the party." Correct: "I expect to see you at the party."
• Incorrect: "Everyone is going except for Sarah." Correct: "Everyone is going except Sarah."
• Incorrect: "I don't expect you to understand." Correct: "I don't except you to understand."

Conclusion

In conclusion, except and expect are two words that may sound similar but have distinct meanings and uses. Except is used to indicate exclusions or exceptions, while expect is used to show anticipation or belief in something happening. It is important to use these words correctly to avoid confusion and ensure clear communication in writing and speech.