Except For, Apart From, (Not) Even

1. Apart from / Except (for) Meaning 'Apart from' and 'except (for)' are used to say that something is excluded from a general statement. They mean "everything or everyone except one thing/person." Structure apart from / except (for) + noun phrase (NP) Examples I've seen all their films apart from / except (for) True Grit. The house was silent, apart from / except for the ticking of the clock. Notes 'Apart from' and 'except (for)' are usually interchangeable. 'Except for' is more common in formal or written English. The phrase is often used to add extra detail or contrast. 2. (Not) Even for Emphasis Meaning 'Even' is used to emphasise something surprising or unexpected. 'Not even' makes the emphasis stronger by highlighting how extreme or unlikely something is. Structure even + verb / noun phrase not even + noun phrase / clause Examples She even wanted me to pay her hotel bill. Not even a dog would eat that. Position tips 'Even' usually comes before the word or idea you want to emphasise. Not even often appears at the beginning of a sentence for stronger impact.