But not / Except
Stating an exception
But not vs. Except
| BUT | EXCEPT |
|---|---|
But not is used to to exclude something after stating a generalization using words such as: all, every, everything, everybody, etc. (Negative words such as: no, any, nothing, nobody are used with except.) |
Except is used to exclude something after stating a generalization. Generalizing words are: all, any, every, no, everything, anybody, nowhere, nobody, nothing, etc. Before a noun or a noun phrase for may be omitted. When using a pronoun after except for, use an object pronoun (him, her, them, us,me). |
BEFORE A NOUN He likes vegetables but not carrots. |
BEFORE A NOUN He likes vegetables except (for) carrots. |
Everyone in our family likes vegetables but not him. object pronoun |
Everyone in our family likes vegetables except (for) him. object pronoun |
*Nobody eats liver² but not Teresa. Avoid a double negative. |
Nobody eats liver except (for) Teresa. |
Everyone avoids liver but not Teresa. Rephrase the verb. |
Everyone avoids liver except (for) Teresa. |
BEFORE A PREPOSITION, CONJUNCTION OR CLAUSE He usually eats sweets but not when someone is looking. |
BEFORE A PREPOSITION, CONJUNCTION OR CLAUSE He usually eats sweets except when someone is looking. He often eats sweets. |
Everyone in our family likes coffee but not at night. |
Everyone in our family likes coffee except at night. They drink it day time. |
We have a sugary treat everyday but not during Lent¹. |
We have a sugary treat everyday except during Lent. |
He eats honey but not as a sweetener (in something else). |
He eats honey except as a sweetener (in something else). |
*Teresa likes candy but not that she can't eat it because of her diabetes. |
Teresa likes candy except that she can't eat it because of her diabetes. |
¹Lent (n.) – a period before Easter when Western Christians give up eating a favorite food
²liver (n.) – an organ in an animal that cleans blood
*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.
But / Except
before verbs
| BEFORE AN INFINITIVE | BEFORE A GERUND |
|---|---|
After do + everything / nothing / anything, use an infinitive, and omit 'to'. |
After a verb+ prep phrase (participial adjective), use a gerund. |
Jack does nothing all day except [to] eat and sleep. Delete to. |
He isn't interested in anything except eating and sleeping. interested in... eating |
Teresa can do everything except [to] cook. |
You don't need to worry about anything except having a wonderful time! worry about... having |
She can't do anything except [to] cry. |
I was looking forward to everything except doing a lot of homework. look forward to... doing
|
But
Expressions
Nothing but / All but
| NOTHING BUT | ALL BUT |
|---|---|
Nothing but is an expression meaning "only". It emphasizes the noun after it. |
All but expresses an exception or only this is left. (one, two or little) |
|
|
There was nothing but sugar in the "energy bar". only sugar, lots of it |
They sold all but two energy bars. except |
He was nothing but trouble. only trouble, lots of it |
|
Jack eats 
He ate
If not for / But for
| IF NOT FOR | BUT FOR |
|---|---|
If not for expresses the idea of "if something had not existed/happened" |
But for expresses the idea of "if something had not existed/happened". |
If not for traffic, I would have been home an hour ago. |
But for traffic, I would have been home an hour ago. |
If not for your help, I would never have finished on time. |
But for your help, I would never have finished on time. |
Who… but
| BUT FOR | WHO…BUT |
|---|---|
But for expresses the idea of "if something had not existed/happened". |
Who / What should...but is used to express surprise at a chance meeting or finding. |
I was walking down the street, and unexpectedly I saw Jack. |
I was walking down the street, and who should I see but Jack. a chance meeting |
I looked down the street, and luckily I found a parking space! |
I looked down the street, and what should I find but a parking space! a lucky find |
Cannot… but
| CANNOT HELP + VERB-ING | CANNOT BUT + VERB |
|---|---|
A gerund is used after can't help. Can't help means cannot avoid or cannot stop from doing. |
Cannot but expresses the idea of "we can do nothing except ..." (formal). The expression cannot help but is a combination of can't help and cannot but. It is informal. |
We can't help admiring his courage. |
We cannot but admire his courage. very formal |
Jack can't help drinking. |
We could not but see that he was drunk. |
"A lot has been written about these phrases. To put as charitable a light on the matter as possible, most of what you may read is out of date. We have hundreds of citations for these phrases, and we can tell you two things for certain: these phrases all mean the same thing — "to be unable to do otherwise than" — and they are all standard." (Merriam Webster 220)
"cannot but, cannot help, cannot help but" (MWEEU)
"can't help" (Swan 116.3)
Common Mistakes
Errors and Solutions
| ERROR | SOLUTION |
|---|---|
*Bill Clinton is committed to a plant-based diet except for eats an occasional fish. |
Bill Clinton is committed to a plant-based diet except for eating an occasional fish dish. (some fish occasionally.) |
*I would have failed except for your help. |
Nobody helped me except (for) you. |
See Pop-Q "Except for"
Practice 1
Exceptions to generalizations
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button.
Practice 2
Expressions for exceptions
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button.