The preposition except means "excluding." When we refer to the continental United States, we mean the whole country except Alaska and Hawaii.
imp. & p. p.
of Except
Usage Examples
Excepted, Excepted, xcepted, Excepted, Ezxcepted, Esxcepted, Edxcepted, Ecxcepted, Ezcepted, Escepted, Edcepted, Eccepted, Exzcepted, Exscepted, Exdcepted, Exccepted, Exxcepted, Exdcepted, Exfcepted, Exvcepted, Ex cepted, Exxepted, Exdepted, Exfepted, Exvepted, Ex epted, Excxepted, Excdepted, Excfepted, Excvepted, Exc epted, Excwepted, Exc3epted, Exc4epted, Excrepted, Excsepted, Excdepted, Excwpted, Exc3pted, Exc4pted, Excrpted, Excspted, Excdpted, Excewpted, Exce3pted, Exce4pted, Excerpted, Excespted, Excedpted, Exceopted, Exce0pted, Excelpted, Exceoted, Exce0ted, Excelted, Excepoted, Excep0ted, Exceplted, Exceprted, Excep5ted, Excep6ted, Excepyted, Excepgted, Excepred, Excep5ed, Excep6ed, Excepyed, Excepged, Exceptred, Except5ed, Except6ed, Exceptyed, Exceptged, Exceptwed, Except3ed, Except4ed, Exceptred, Exceptsed, Exceptded, Exceptwd, Except3d, Except4d, Exceptrd, Exceptsd, Exceptdd, Exceptewd, Excepte3d, Excepte4d, Excepterd, Exceptesd, Exceptedd, Exceptesd, Excepteed, Exceptefd, Exceptexd, Exceptecd, Exceptes, Exceptee, Exceptef, Exceptex, Exceptec, Excepteds, Exceptede, Exceptedf, Exceptedx, Exceptedc.