What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
except
Example
I like all fruits except for bananas. [except: preposition]
Example
Everyone came to the party except for John. [except: conjunction]
exclude
Example
The bouncer excluded the underage patrons from entering the club. [exclude: verb]
Example
The job posting excludes candidates without a college degree. [excludes: present tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Exclude is more commonly used than except in everyday language. Exclude is a versatile verb that can be used in various contexts, while except is more limited in its usage and is often used in formal writing or speech.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between except and exclude?
Exclude is generally more formal than except, which can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
