Commonly Confused Words Accept, Except, and Expect

The words accept, except, and expect sound similar, but their meanings are quite different. Definitions Accept is a verb that means to take in.The preposition except means other than.The verb expect means to depend on or await. Examples You have to accept whatever comes, and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give.(Eleanor Roosevelt) Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best.Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.Except when you dont,Because, sometimes, you wont.(Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places Youll Go!  Random House, 1990)Momma  sent us to her bedroom with warnings  to have our Sunday School lesson perfectly memorized or we knew what we could expect.(Maya Angelou,  I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Random House, 1969)Everyone except the elves accepted the wage offer. We expect to return to work soon. Practice Exercises (a) Because nobody _____ Shrek would _____ your excuse, I _____ an apology.(b) I _____ you to pay the rent by Friday, and Ill _____ no more excuses. Answers to Practice Exercises (a) Because nobody  except  Shrek would  accept  your excuse, I  expect  an apology.(b) I  expect  you to pay the rent by Friday, and Ill  accept  no more excuses.