Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
You use ~ to introduce the only thing or person that a statement does not apply to, or a fact that prevents a statement from being completely true.
I wouldn’t have accepted anything ~ a job in Europe...
I don’t take any drugs whatsoever, ~ aspirin for colds...
PREP
•
Except is also a conjunction.
Freddie would tell me nothing about what he was writing, ~ that it was to be a Christmas play...
CONJ: oft CONJ that/when/where/if
2.
You use ~ for to introduce the only thing or person that prevents a statement from being completely true.
He hadn’t eaten a thing ~ for one forkful of salad...
Everyone was late, ~ for Richard.
PREP-PHRASE