accept

To agree to something, say "okay," or allow something to happen is to accept it. These sentences show how you can use "accept" as a verb:

• I accept your offer.
• Your application for a credit card was accepted. (Here the verb "accept" is in the passive voice.)
• Allen was accepted at Harvard.
• Christine accepted John’s offer of marriage.
• We can’t accept anymore new students in this class. It’s too full.
• Don refuses to accept the fact that his son is gay.
• My offer wasn’t accepted. It was rejected.

There are three possibilities for the adjective form of this word: accepted, acceptable, and acceptance.

• His behavior was not acceptable, so the school expelled him. (You can also use the word "unacceptable.")
• Accepted applications go into this filing cabinet. Unaccepted applications are kept for one year before they are destroyed.
• The terms of the agreement are acceptable to all parties involved.
• The nominee for the position made a great acceptance speech. He told everyone he would be honored to accept the position.

Note: The pronunciation of "accept" is the same as the word "except." To except something is to exclude it or remove it from a group. Many Americans confuse the spelling of these two words; the meanings, however, are clearly different.

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October 21, 2012.