Liza, It’s hard to make a rule; sometimes it is just a matter of preference. 'Except' and 'except for' both can have the meaning of “not including” when they are prepositions. PREPOSITION 1) When there is an obvious contrast after words like all, every, no, anybody, nowhere, whole, everything, etc., you can use except or except for. He liked all the colors except green. He liked all the colors except for green. I did everything except the last exercise. I did everything except for the last exercise. Nothing was approved by the President except the debate. Nothing was approved by the President except for the debate. 2) When the contrast is not obvious “except for” is usual, but sometimes it is a matter of style. The word “for” makes it more specific. New methods have replaced the old except for certain cases. Except for mealtime, he was occupied with chores….usual Except mealtime, he was occupied with chores….also okay 2a) “Except for” meaning “ were it not for” “but for” Except for you I would be dead. I would join you in the pool except for my cold. 3) Use except (not except for) before prepositions and conjunctions. Nothing happens on the weekend here except in rare circumstances. She is beautiful except when she frowns You can pay anyway you want except by cash. I take no orders except from the King. 4) Before pronoun objects you can use either except of except for. Everyone came to the party except for him. Everyone came to the party except him. Who could they blame except themselves. Who could they blame except for themselves. CONJUNCTION Except …….(literary only) meaning “unless”. Except a man confess with his heart he shall not be saved. He never eats at a restaurant except it is crowded with guests. 'Except' or 'except that' meaning “only”…. I was going to buy you flowers except that I had no money. I was going to buy you flowers except I had no money.

"Except" and "except for" have different meanings. A good place to start is with a dictionary that defines both. ex·cept (ĭk-sĕpt') prep. With the exclusion of; other than; but: EG Everyone except me. conj. If it were not for the fact that; only. Often used with that: Eg : I would buy the suit, except that it costs too much. Otherwise than: Eg: They didn't open their mouths except to complain. Unless: EG “And ne'er throughout the year to church thou go'st/Except it be to pray against thy foes” (Shakespeare). v., -cept·ed, -cept·ing, -cepts. v.tr. To leave out; exclude: Eg: An admission fee is charged, but children are excepted. v.intr. To object: EGg: Counsel excepted to the court's ruling. idiom: except for Were it not for: Eg: I would join you except for my cold.