What it means
別として means “apart from,” “except for,” or “setting aside.” It marks a person, group, or matter that is excluded from the main statement, while the statement normally applies to everything else. It is most commonly used in the pattern noun + は別として and can be used in both familiar and polite sentences.
Usage note
別として is normally used with は after a noun, as in noun + は別として. Do not confuse it with 別に, which commonly means “not particularly” or “separately,” depending on context.
How to use it
Nounは別として
初心者は別として、参加者は全員その規則を知っています。
Except for beginners, all participants know that rule.
Nounは別として
初心者は別として、参加者は全員その規則を知っている。
Except for beginners, all participants know that rule.