present company...

[confuddled]

'accepted' or 'excepted'?

I always used to think it was accepted, but am now considering 'excepted' to actually be more suitable...

Was i wrong then, or am i now?

[kempie]

You are making an exception for those around you...

[confuddled]

so you think 'excepted' Kempie? well thats what i got to thinking but am still not sure (!)

[kempie]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_frequently_misused_English_words

[NiceCupOfTea]

The context is 'Everyone in the whole world, except for you who are with me now, .....'

[Xollob]

Kempie, nice link - thanks. Here's another site I use on occasion: Common Errors in English, also with an entry for accept/except.

[Quizmonkey]

'Present company accepted' makes no sense!

[Pherstun]

It's used when in the company of others and saying something particularly derogatory, "present company excepted" means you're not including in that the person/people you're speaking to.

[moviemaster]

I've heard "present company excluded" used before which may help clear up the confusion