save
/sāv/
intransitive verb
- To rescue from harm, danger, or loss. The lifeguard saved the struggling swimmer.
- To prevent from dying. The doctors saved the patient.
- To set free from the consequences of sin; redeem. prayed to save his soul.
meaning - Use of "save" or "save for" in sentences - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange
what does "save" mean in this context?
The meaning of 'save'
When people say “save” instead of “except”
Videos
The definition of save in this example is other than : but, except.
This article gives a rather interesting discussion about when to use except/except for, and that applies equally to save/save for.
That article mentions one case where you would use the 'for' version:
when what is excluded is different from what is included
Examples cited:
Your essay is good except for the spelling.
All the compositions are good except John's.
It goes on with several other cases, so I guess the nutshell answer is: Both are correct in different situations, and the rules for figuring out which to use are fairly complex.
My first thought on reading this question was that although including the word "for" isn't exactly incorrect, it doesn't sit well with me. Here's the obligatory NGram showing I'm not alone...
The original meaning of save as protect from harm morphed through preserve -> put aside -> make an exception of -> with the exception of. This same meaning shift has also happened with the French sauf.
"This will impact everyone (save, Miranda and Lily)"
Since I am Lily I don't know if that means "except" or "especially" lol
What does 'save' mean grammatically and semantically when used in such a way (from the first poem of The Esdaile Notebook by PB Shelley):
"Hushed below the battle's jar Night rests silent on the Heath, Silent save when vultures soar Above the wounded warrior's death." ?
“I loved that movie, save for the ending.”
No, no, no!
It’s “I loved that movie, except for the ending.”
I’m hearing this a lot more lately and I don’t know why.
"Save" may be used interchangeably with "except" here. In Beorn's hall, he has few things made of metal, except the knives, which are made of metal.
"Save" can be an uncommon way to say "except", but is generally not used colloquially and unlikely to be used this way in informal conversation. You're more likely to see it in a literary context where it's a stylistic word choice.
It is not incorrect to use it this way. It's just not commonly used in conversational modern American English. Even when used, you'll most often see it used as "save for," which makes the intended meaning of "except [for]" more explicit.