Yes, it can.  In the example you give, one could substitute a undisputed
preposition like "except" and get the same meaning.  With different
meanings we can substitute other prepositions and the structure remains
the same:  behind, with, ahead of, after, near, under, above, etc.  So
it fills a slot that is a prepositional slot.  It's semantic connection
to the coordinating conjunction "but" is remote.

Herb

-----Original Message-----
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Peter Adams
Sent: 2008-02-28 20:34
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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