I vote yes. It is functioning as a preposition with the meaning "except." 

Nancy L. Tuten, PhD
Professor of English
Director of the Writing-across-the-Curriculum Program
Columbia College
Columbia, South Carolina
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803-786-3706
 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Peter Adams
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008 8:34 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: But as a preposition?

In a sentence like this

            Everyone but Craig is going to the movies.

what lexical class is "but"?  Can it be a preposition?

Peter Adams

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