"except one" vs "certain one"

Question

"except one" vs "certain one"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Except one' is used to indicate all but one, while 'certain one' is used to refer to a specific, known individual.

Last Updated: March 29, 2024

This phrase is used when referring to a group of items or people, emphasizing that all of them are included in an action or statement except for one particular item or person.

Examples:

All the students passed the exam except one.
I like all fruits except one.
Everyone was present at the meeting except one person.
She invited all her friends except one.
The team won all their matches except one.

Alternatives:

all but one
everyone except one
everything except one

This phrase is used when referring to a particular individual that is known or specified in a given context.

Examples:

I need to talk to a certain one of the employees.
She always buys her bread from a certain one of the bakeries.
A certain one of the books on the shelf caught my eye.
He is a certain one of the students in the class.
A certain one of the paintings in the gallery is my favorite.

Alternatives:

specific one
particular one
particular individual

Answer 1

except one

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate all but one.

Answer 2

certain one

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to refer to a specific, known individual.

"except one" vs "certain one"

except one

certain one

Related Comparisons