except

[jiang]

Dear teachers,

Please read the following sentence:

A universtiy has no real existence and no real purpose except as it succeeds in puttin gyou in touch with history.
I know we can say "except that ", "except in". Could you please explain the usage of "except as'? Does it mean "except if"

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.

Jiang

 

[bhaisahab]

Dear teachers,

Please read the following sentence:

A universtiy has no real existence and no real purpose except as it succeeds in puttin gyou in touch with history.
I know we can say "except that ", "except in". Could you please explain the usage of "except as'? Does it mean "except if"

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.

Jiang

"except as" doesn't make sense in that sentence.

 

[jiang]

Dear bhaisahab,
Thank you very much for your reply.
Do you mean this is a mistake?

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.
Jiang

"except as" doesn't make sense in that sentence.

 

[Linguist__]

(Not a teacher)

I'd say it's a mistake. "... except that..." makes more sense.

 

[jiang]

Dear Linguist,

Thank you very much for your explanation.
If I change it to "except as" does it suggest purpose?

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.
Jiang

(Not a teacher)

I'd say it's a mistake. "... except that..." makes more sense.

 

[bhaisahab]

Dear Linguist,

Thank you very much for your explanation.
If I change it to "except as" does it suggest purpose?

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.
Jiang

I would say that it should say "except if".

 

[Linguist__]

(Not a teacher)

"Except as" doesn't make sense in this context, as bhaisahab said previously.

I hadn't considered 'except if', which is also correct. A difference in meaning between 'expect if' and 'except that' in this case exists.

"A universtiy has no real existence and no real purpose except that it succeeds in putting you in touch with history." - This means that it does have a purpose, and that purpose is that it succeeds in putting you in touch with history.

"A universtiy has no real existence and no real purpose except if it succeeds in putting you in touch with history." This means that it only has a purpose if it succeeds in putting you in touch with history. If it doesn't do that, then it's purpose is lost.

You choose which is the meaning you intended. 'Except as' doesn't work at all in this instance.

 

[jiang]

Dear Linguist,

Thank you very much for your explanation. Now I understand it.
Jiang

(Not a teacher)

"Except as" doesn't make sense in this context, as bhaisahab said previously.

I hadn't considered 'except if', which is also correct. A difference in meaning between 'expect if' and 'except that' in this case exists.

"A universtiy has no real existence and no real purpose except that it succeeds in putting you in touch with history." - This means that it does have a purpose, and that purpose is that it succeeds in putting you in touch with history.

"A universtiy has no real existence and no real purpose except if it succeeds in putting you in touch with history." This means that it only has a purpose if it succeeds in putting you in touch with history. If it doesn't do that, then it's purpose is lost.

You choose which is the meaning you intended. 'Except as' doesn't work at all in this instance.

 

[Sylviey]

Dear teachers,

Please read the following sentence:

A universtiy has no real existence and no real purpose except as it succeeds in puttin gyou in touch with history.
I know we can say "except that ", "except in". Could you please explain the usage of "except as'? Does it mean "except if"

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.

Jiang

I agree with the above explanations, and would like to add that another way to say the sentence might be:

"A university has no real existence and no real purpose except the success in putting you in touch with history."

Definitely, except as is not appropriate.