Key Difference

• “Apart from” is generally used to include something additional or to highlight an exception among similar items.
• “Except for” is used to exclude something specifically from a group.

1. “Apart from”

This phrase has two main uses, which can sometimes overlap but are still distinct:

• To show inclusion (meaning “in addition to” or “as well as”):
  When you want to add something as an extra item, use “apart from” in a similar way to “besides.”
  • Example: “Apart from English, she also speaks Spanish and French.”
    (This means she speaks English plus other languages, too.)
• To show partial exclusion (meaning “except for” in a limited way):
  Sometimes, “apart from” can mean almost the same as “except for,” especially when you want to show a small difference from the rest of the group.
  • Example: “Apart from a few spelling mistakes, the essay was perfect.”
    (This means there were a few mistakes, but otherwise, it was very good.)

2. “Except for”

“Except for” is used for exclusion. It emphasizes that something is different or excluded from the rest of the group.

• Example: “Everyone was at the meeting except for John.”
  (This sentence means John was specifically excluded from the group who attended the meeting.)
• Another Example: “The house is fully furnished except for the kitchen.”
  (This sentence means that only the kitchen is not furnished, while the rest of the house is.)

Summary of Differences

Practice Exercise

Fill in the blanks with “apart from” or “except for”:

1. __________ the cold weather, the trip was perfect.
2. The restaurant serves a variety of dishes __________ seafood.
3. She likes all kinds of music __________ classical.

Answers:

1. Apart from
2. Except for
3. Except for