How to Express Exception in English

How to Express Exception in English (Except, Apart from, Other Than, Were It Not For & More)

Very often in English, we want to say something like this:

• Everything was perfect… except one thing.
• I liked the hotel… apart from the location.
• The plan would have worked… if not for one small mistake.

This kind of language is extremely common in essays, reviews, reports, and articles — especially in Cambridge exams (B2 First, C1 Advanced).

In this lesson, you’ll learn the most useful words and structures for expressing exception in English — from simple everyday ones like except and apart from to more advanced and formal structures like were it not for.

By the end, you will be able to add precision and balance to your writing, express contrast and limitation naturally and sound much more advanced and controlled in exams.

What does “exception” mean?

An exception is something that is not included in a general rule or statement.

• The room was perfect — except for the noise.

Group 1: The most common and natural forms

These are the ones you will use all the time in writing and speaking.

Except (for / that)

Meaning: Except means with the exception of.

• There was no one to blame except
• The essay was excellent except for a few spelling mistakes.
• She remembered nothing except that the men were wearing black masks.
• The hotel was perfect except for the noise at night.

Patterns

• except + noun
• except for + noun
• except that + clause

Apart from

Meaning: Apart from means except for or aside from.

Important: Sometimes it can also mean “in addition to”, but in exam writing it is often used to show exception.

• Nothing mattered to him apart from his family.
• The report looks good apart from a few small details.
• I didn’t know anyone there apart from the people I came with.

Other than

Meaning: Other than is a slightly more formal way to say except.

• Does anyone other than you know about this?
• There are no solutions other than starting again.
• No one other than Michael complained.

But (as a preposition)

Meaning: In a more formal or literary style, but can mean except.

• They work every day but
• Everyone came but
• All the students passed but

This use is less common in everyday speaking, but still appears in writing and reading texts.

Group 2: Sentence-level and contrast structures

These work on the whole sentence, not just a phrase.

Otherwise

Meaning: Otherwise means apart from that or in every other way.

• There were a few people inside, but otherwise the café was empty.
• The plan is good. Otherwise, I have no complaints.

If not

Meaning: We use if not to say what will happen if something does not happen.

• I’d like to go in July. If not, I’ll go in August.
• Are you ready? If not, we’ll leave without you.

Group 3: Advanced and formal exam structures

These are perfect for C1-level writing.

Were it not for

Meaning: This means if this thing did not exist/did not happen. It is a formal conditional structure.

• My job would be easy were it not for the constant complaints.
• Were it not for her help, we would have failed.
• The plan would have succeeded were it not for one small error.

You can also say: If it were not for… (less formal)

Aside from

Meaning: Aside from is very similar to apart from.

• The camp was quiet aside from the occasional owl.
• There is no treatment aside from medication to control the symptoms.

How to choose the right structure?

Ask yourself:

• Is this a short phrase after a noun? → except, apart from, other than
• Is this about the whole situation? → otherwise
• Is this formal/advanced writing? → were it not for
• Is this about an alternative plan? → if not

Exam tip (B2–C1)

Using exception structures helps you show balance in essays and reviews, avoid simple “but” sentences, express limitations and conditions elegantly and score higher for range and control of grammar.

Learn more about linking words and phrases here