Except, but, excluding, barring

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hello.
Here are my questions for today. :slight_smile:

1) What’s the difference between these words?
a) except
b) but
c) excluding
d) barring

2) Are these examples correct?
a) There was everybody except (for?) me at the party.
b) There was everybody but me at the party.
c) There was everybody excluding me at the party.
d) There was everybody barring me at the party.

3) Are there any other synonyms?

2

Hi MFIAG :slight_smile:

Here is my take:

  1. What’s the difference between these words?
    => I think they mean the same (personal idea only)

  2. Are these examples correct?
    b) There was everybody but me at the party.
    c) There was everybody excluding me at the party.
    d) There was everybody barring me at the party.
    => these are correct

a) There was everybody except (for?) me at the party.
=> According to some grammar books in my country, “except” is used without “for”, and “but” is used with “for”, but according to others, it is vice versa, so I’m dumb now :stuck_out_tongue:

  1. Are there any other synonyms? => no idea!
3

So lets wait for some native-speakers to make things clear :smiley:

4

Could any native speakers please help us? :stuck_out_tongue:
Many thanks in advance :slight_smile:

5

hi,

Another expression is ‘apart from me’.

Alan

6

Hi Alan,
Thanks a lot for your help but how about MIAG’s original question? Are my answers to them right or wrong?

Many thanks

7

Except and but are similar:
a) except–similar to but
b) but–similar to except
The only difference is that “but” emphasizes words such as “everyone,” “anyone,” “no one,” etc.

Excluding and barring are rarely used. Excepting is perhaps a better alternative.
c) excluding (this is an action see sample below)
d) barring (this is more of a physical action–it sounds as if the party had bars or some other contraption around it)
There was everybody excluding me at the party. It sounds like you are AT the party, but they are ostracizing you.
There was everybody barring me at the party. This sounds like everyone is locking you up inside the party (literal definition of bar as a verb).
Thus, barring and excluding are not synonymous with except, excepting, and but.

So… as for your examples, I will rephrase them to a subject-verb order (preferred in writing essays).

Everyone is at the party but me. (In this case, but emphasizes that “everyone was here”)
Everybody was at the party except me. (In this case, except emphasizes that the speaker, “me,” wasn’t there)

As for when to use “except for” and “except”…
The essay was well written except for a few grammar mistakes. (use for because “grammar mistakes” is not a type of “essay”)
The essays were well written except for mine. (do not use for because “mine” or “my essay” is part of the collection of essays)

I know this response may be rather late, but better late than never.
Good luck!!

8

Welcome to the forum, Guido!