But not / Except

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 liver but not Teresa.  Avoid a double negative.	Nobody eats liver except (for) Teresa.    liver (n.) – an organ in an animal that cleans blood
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 Lent.	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, but she can't eat it because of her diabetes.	Teresa likes candy except that she can't eat it because of her diabetes.

Lent (n.) – a period before Easter when Western Christians give up eating a favorite food
*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. Jack does nothing all day but [to] eat and sleep.	He isn't interested in anything except eating and sleeping.  interested in... eating He isn't interested in anything but eating and sleeping.
Teresa can do everything except [to] cook. Teresa can do everything but [to] cook.	You don't need to worry about anything except having a wonderful time! worry about... having You don't need to worry about anything but having a wonderful time!
She can't do anything except [to] cry. She can't do anything but [to] cry.	I was looking forward to everything except doing a lot of homework. look forward to... doing I was looking forward to everything but doing a lot of homework. I was looking forward to doing everything but a lot of homework.

Common Mistakes

ERROR	FIX
*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.) Bill Clinton is committed to a plant-based diet except for an occasional fish dish. Bill Clinton is committed to a plant-based diet except that he eats an occasional fish dish. (he occasionally eats some fish.)
*I would have failed except for your help.	Nobody helped me except (for) you. I would have failed without your help.   (Use without. Except is for excluding one thing from a generalization.)

See Pop-Q "exact for"