I have a PC application which can receive different types of messages. Those messages can be filtered. One filter is named
All without online messages
which is not an appropriate choice IMHO, but I don't exactly know why. Probably because I wouldn't use the words like that in German
Alles ohne Online Meldungen
Better choices could be
All but online messages
All except online messages
After checking dict.leo.org, all but
means something like almost
or nearly
, so I would even exclude that version and stick with except
.
Is it correct that
all without
is wrong or at least rare, maybe used by children onlybut
can have same meaning asexcept
but not if used together withall
except
is the best choice here
Best Answer
Indeed, "all without" is the worst option here. It isn't technically incorrect, but it doesn't sound right and you would never hear or see anybody use it in this context.
"All but" is the second best option, but still it doesn't fit this context that well. You could use it, but it still doesn't sound completely right.
"All except" is, without a doubt, the best and most fitting option. Since you are filtering something out, you're leaving it out - "all except" works the best here.