By chance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "By chance" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something happened unexpectedly or coincidentally. Example: "I ran into my old friend at the coffee shop, by chance, while I was waiting for my order."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

By chance or design?

The Economist

By chance, I replied.

The New Yorker

By chance, we were flown to Britain.

Independent

By chance, she had reached me directly.

The New York Times

By chance see this information.

Harvard University

By chance, it happened.

Huffington Post

It happened by chance.

The New York Times

"Brundibar" came about by chance.

The New Yorker

Three women meet by chance.

The Economist

It was composed by chance.

The New Yorker

Some meetings are by chance.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "By chance" to emphasize the unexpected or accidental nature of an event, adding a touch of surprise or spontaneity to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "By chance" to explain a direct cause-and-effect relationship. It describes coincidental occurrences, not reasons. For causal relations, use phrases like "due to" or "because of".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "By chance" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate that an event occurred unexpectedly or accidentally. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "By chance" is a grammatically correct and frequently used prepositional phrase that functions as an adverbial, indicating that something occurred unexpectedly or accidentally. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in various contexts, including news, academia, and informal conversation. While versatile, it should not be used to express causal relationships. Common synonyms include ""by accident"", ""coincidentally"", and ""unexpectedly"". Its prevalence across diverse sources underscores its common usage and broad applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

By accident

Similar prepositional phrase, focusing on the unintentional nature of the event.

Coincidentally

Adverb highlighting the occurrence of events at the same time without a plan.

Accidentally

Adverb indicating an action done unintentionally or without planning.

Unintentionally

Adverb stressing the lack of intent behind an action.

Unexpectedly

Adverb emphasizing the surprise element of an event.

Inadvertently

Adverb specifying that something was done without intention or thought.

Fortuitously

Adverb suggesting a lucky or fortunate accidental occurrence.

Serendipitously

Adverb indicating a fortunate discovery made by accident.

As luck would have it

Idiomatic phrase emphasizing the role of luck in an event.

Unplanned

Adjective converted to adverb use meaning without a pre-arranged design or intention.

FAQs

How can I use "By chance" in a sentence?

Use "By chance" to indicate an unexpected or accidental occurrence. For example, "I met her "by chance" at the conference."

What's a good substitute for "By chance"?

Alternatives include "by accident", "coincidentally", or "unexpectedly", depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "By chance that"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. You can use it to introduce a statement about something that happened unexpectedly. Example: "It happened "by chance" that I met my best friend that day."

What is the difference between "By chance" and "On purpose"?

"By chance" indicates something happened accidentally or without planning, whereas "On purpose" means something was done intentionally or deliberately. They are antonyms.