accident of timing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "accident of timing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where the timing of an event is coincidental and has an impact on the outcome. Example: "The project's success was largely due to an accident of timing, as it coincided perfectly with a surge in market demand."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

To some extent, American optimism is an accident of timing.

The New York Times

In many ways, that's an accident of timing.

The Washington Post

That much is a sad accident of timing.

The Guardian - Film

That narrative begins with an accident of timing.

The New York Times - Arts

"AfroCubism" was helped by an accident of timing.

The New York Times - Arts

Indeed, these two books suffer from an accident of timing.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

His main theme is that great success is hardly ever solely the result of extraordinary innate talent but of other factors, such as luck, accidents of timing, exceptional opportunity and an appetite for plain hard work.

The Economist

Given how easily a first choice of major can be swayed by accidents of timing and environment, it's perhaps not surprising that 37percentt of students eventually switch, according to a new paper from University of Memphis economists Carmen Astorne-Figari and Jamin D. Speer that will be published in the journal Economics of Education Review.

The Washington Post

Allowing (as any reasonable person would) that "success is extremely difficult to achieve without hard work," Frank suggests that we are all nonetheless at the mercy of accidents of timing and twists of fate.

Los Angeles Times

So the McSurelys may have escaped imprisonment & ruin only through an accident of judicial timing.

The New Yorker

Her e-mail, I told her, was one of the most moving: because she was a writer, and because of the accident of its timing.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "accident of timing", ensure the context clearly establishes the unexpected and coincidental nature of the timing. It should explain how the timing influenced the outcome.

Common error

Avoid implying that timing alone caused an event. "Accident of timing" should highlight a contributing factor, not the sole reason for something happening. Other factors should be considered in your analysis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "accident of timing" functions as a noun phrase, often acting as a subject complement or an appositive. It describes the coincidental nature of an event's occurrence in relation to a specific point in time, influencing its outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

83%

Academia

11%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "accident of timing" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase, particularly in news and media contexts, that describes a coincidental and impactful alignment of events. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively communicates the role of chance in influencing outcomes, highlighting unexpected and unplanned temporal relationships. When using this phrase, ensure the context clarifies how the timing specifically affected the situation and avoid overstating its causal importance. Alternatives such as "chance occurrence" or "fortunate coincidence" can offer nuanced variations in meaning. Remember that while "accident of timing" is neutral, it is more often used to describe occurrences that had either bad or good outcomes, instead of neutral ones.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fluke of timing

Uses "fluke" to highlight randomness in timing

chance occurrence

Focuses on the element of chance, rather than the specific aspect of timing.

happenstance of the moment

Highlights the accidental nature of something occurring at a particular time.

fortunate coincidence

Emphasizes the positive or lucky aspect of the event happening when it did.

serendipitous moment

Highlights the unexpected and beneficial nature of the timing.

opportune moment by chance

Emphasizes the fortuitous nature of the timing being a coincidence.

unintentional synchronization

More formal and emphasizes the unplanned alignment of events.

providential timing

Suggests that the timing was fortunate or opportune, possibly divinely arranged.

coincidental juncture

A more formal way of saying it happened at the same time.

random temporal alignment

More technical, suggesting an unexpected alignment in time.

FAQs

How can I use "accident of timing" in a sentence?

Use "accident of timing" to describe a situation where the timing of an event is coincidental and significantly impacts the outcome. For instance, "The company's success was an "accident of timing", as their product launched just as the market demand peaked."

What are some alternatives to "accident of timing"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "fortunate coincidence", "chance occurrence", or "serendipitous moment" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "accident of timing" always a positive occurrence?

Not necessarily. While it can imply a lucky or beneficial coincidence, "accident of timing" simply indicates that timing played a significant, unplanned role, which could have positive, negative, or neutral consequences.

What's the difference between "accident of timing" and "good timing"?

"Good timing" implies a deliberate action or strategy that resulted in a favorable outcome. "Accident of timing", on the other hand, emphasizes the coincidental and unplanned nature of the favorable timing. The phrase "good timing" implies intent.