accidental changes

USAGE SUMMARY

"accidental changes" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to refer to changes that were not intended or planned, such as: "The team discovered several accidental changes during the software upgrade."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Armed with these distinctions, Aristotle would then say that, in the case of accidental changes, (1) and (2) are both false a changing thing can really change one of its "accidental properties" and yet literally remain one and the same thing before and after the change.

SEP

All mutations are accidental changes to DNA.

The New York Times

-- Doug Glanville, "The Boys of Spring" THE WILD SIDE All mutations are accidental changes to DNA.

The New York Times

Beneficial mutations are those accidental changes that in some way improve an organism's chances of surviving and reproducing.

The New York Times

Different varieties appeared largely as a result of accidental changes or modifications in one or more steps of the cheese-making process.

Encyclopedia Britannica

As a result, malicious, incompetent or accidental changes to the table of router entries can wreak havoc by, for example, letting mischief-makers hijack information.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

How does this notion of accidental change relate to the current phase of India's trajectory?

The New York Times

(As I have remarked elsewhere, insofar as a mutation has any effect, the effect is more likely to be harmful than helpful, for the obvious reason that an accidental change is more likely to be a disruption than an improvement).

The New York Times

Starting from the abnormal strain modes observed, the accidental change of a boundary condition of the bridge model is successfully detected, and also accurately located by the correlation calculation of strain mode shapes.

Engineering Structures

This sort of change is known, appropriately enough, as accidental change.

SEP

In an accidental change, a substance persists through the change, having first one accident and then another.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing scientific or technical topics, use "accidental changes" to describe unintended alterations in experiments, data, or systems.

Common error

Avoid using "accidental changes" when "coincidental changes" is more appropriate. "Accidental changes" implies an unintended alteration, while "coincidental changes" indicates events that occur together by chance but may not directly affect each other.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "accidental changes" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "accidental" modifies the noun "changes". It typically describes alterations or modifications that were not intended or planned. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and appropriate for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "accidental changes" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe unintended alterations. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, particularly in science, news, and encyclopedic content. The phrase is used to communicate that modifications occurred without planning, often implying a deviation from an intended state. Related phrases include "unintentional modifications" and "unforeseen alterations". When using this phrase, it's important to ensure it accurately reflects an unintended alteration rather than a coincidental occurrence. Common sources that employ this term are The New York Times and The Economist.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unintentional modifications

Emphasizes the lack of intent behind the modifications.

unforeseen alterations

Highlights the unexpected nature of the alterations.

inadvertent shifts

Focuses on changes occurring without conscious awareness.

unplanned adjustments

Stresses the absence of planning in the adjustments.

chance variations

Highlights the role of chance in causing variations.

random modifications

Emphasizes the randomness of the changes.

unexpected transformations

Focuses on the surprise element of the transformations.

coincidental alterations

Highlights the coincidental nature of the alterations.

serendipitous changes

Suggests that the changes happened by fortunate accident.

fortuitous modifications

Indicates that the modifications occurred by a lucky chance.

FAQs

How can I use "accidental changes" in a sentence?

You can use "accidental changes" to describe alterations that occur unintentionally, such as in the sentence, "The software update introduced several "accidental changes" to the user interface."

What's a good alternative to "accidental changes"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "unintentional modifications", "unforeseen alterations", or "inadvertent shifts".

Are "accidental changes" always negative?

Not necessarily. While often associated with errors or unintended consequences, "accidental changes" can sometimes lead to positive or neutral outcomes. The context determines the connotation.

What is the difference between "accidental changes" and "deliberate changes"?

"Accidental changes" are unintentional and occur without planning, while "deliberate changes" are intentional and planned actions taken to modify something.