Except, but, excluding, barring

[MyFriendIsAGoat]

Hello.
Here are my questions for today.

1) What's the difference between these words?
a) except
b) but
c) excluding
d) barring

2) Are these examples correct?
a) There was everybody except (for?) me at the party.
b) There was everybody but me at the party.
c) There was everybody excluding me at the party.
d) There was everybody barring me at the party.

3) Are there any other synonyms?

[nessie]

Hi MFIAG

Here is my take:

1) What's the difference between these words?
=> I think they mean the same (personal idea only)

2) Are these examples correct?
b) There was everybody but me at the party.
c) There was everybody excluding me at the party.
d) There was everybody barring me at the party.
=> these are correct

a) There was everybody except (for?) me at the party.
=> According to some grammar books in my country, "except" is used without "for", and "but" is used with "for", but according to others, it is vice versa, so I'm dumb now

3) Are there any other synonyms? => no idea!

[MyFriendIsAGoat]

So lets wait for some native-speakers to make things clear

[nessie]

Could any native speakers please help us?
Many thanks in advance

[Alan]

hi,

Another expression is 'apart from me'.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Indirect Speech

[nessie]

Hi Alan,
Thanks a lot for your help but how about MIAG's original question? Are my answers to them right or wrong?

Many thanks