accidental gathering

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "accidental gathering" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a meeting or assembly that occurs by chance rather than by intention or planning. Example: "The accidental gathering of friends at the café turned into a delightful evening filled with laughter and stories."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

One writer dismissed the disturbance as "a chance mob" and an "accidental gathering without object".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The accidental fraternity of Marine Court, gathering on the deck of the Balmoral, like Aleister Crowley's coven up on the ridge in Hastings, were drawn together.

The Guardian

The combination of sea turtle life history and threats like hunting for their meat and gathering eggs, accidental capture in many kinds of fishing gear, habitat destruction, and plastic pollution makes modern sea turtle life a challenge.

Huffington Post

Incident reporting is the prevailing approach to gathering data on accidental falls in hospitals for both research and quality assurance purposes, though is of questionable quality as staff time pressures, perception of blame and other factors are thought to contribute to under-reporting.

BMC Health Services Research

The fact that [the file] is transferred across [to a new iPhone or iPad] when you migrate is evidence that the data-gathering isn't accidental".

The Guardian - Tech

Spend time at their gatherings and archivists are quick to confess that theirs was an accidental calling, often discovered en route to becoming a professor or historian.

The New York Times

Snowden is often portrayed as a kind of accidental hero who felt compelled to take on the NSA after becoming fed up with its intelligence-gathering practices.

TechCrunch

Or accidental.

The Guardian

Accidental Limousine?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

______ Overcrowded gathering.

The New Yorker

Initially this was accidental.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "accidental gathering" to describe situations where people come together without prior planning or intention. It's suitable when emphasizing the unexpected nature of the meeting.

Common error

Avoid using "accidental gathering" when the meeting was planned but had an unforeseen outcome. In such cases, use terms like "unforeseen meeting" or "meeting with unintended consequences."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "accidental gathering" functions as a noun phrase, describing a meeting or assembly that occurs unintentionally or by chance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and usable. It modifies the noun 'gathering' with the adjective 'accidental' to specify the nature of the event.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "accidental gathering" describes an unplanned meeting or assembly, as Ludwig AI confirms. It's grammatically sound and appears mostly in news and media contexts. While not a very common phrase, with one exact examples, it's useful for emphasizing the unexpected nature of an event. Alternatives such as "chance meeting" or "unplanned meeting" can be used for similar effect. Avoid using it when the meeting was planned but had unforeseen consequences. In summary, "accidental gathering" is a clear and appropriate way to describe a meeting that occurs by chance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unplanned meeting

Directly states the absence of planning in the meeting.

unexpected encounter

Highlights the surprise element of the meeting.

chance meeting

Focuses on the unplanned nature of the encounter, emphasizing the element of chance.

casual coming-together

Focuses on the relaxed and informal nature of the meeting.

unintentional get-together

Highlights the lack of intent in the assembly, using a more informal tone.

coincidental meetup

Highlights the element of coincidence in the meeting.

fortuitous encounter

Emphasizes the positive or lucky aspect of the unplanned meeting.

serendipitous assembly

Implies a pleasant surprise in the unplanned gathering.

spontaneous congregation

Emphasizes the sudden and unplanned nature of the gathering.

inadvertent huddle

Suggests a more compact or informal gathering that was not intended.

FAQs

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

You can use "accidental gathering" to describe a meeting that happens unexpectedly, such as "The "accidental gathering" of neighbors led to the formation of a community watch group."

What are some alternatives to saying "accidental gathering"?

Alternatives include "chance meeting", "unplanned meeting", or "serendipitous assembly" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "accidental gathering" in formal writing?

While "accidental gathering" is grammatically correct, consider more formal alternatives like "unforeseen assembly" or "unplanned convocation" for professional contexts.

What is the difference between "accidental gathering" and "impromptu meeting"?

"Accidental gathering" suggests a lack of planning or intention, whereas "impromptu meeting" implies a meeting arranged with little notice but still deliberately organized.