accidentally

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "accidentally" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe situations in which something happens unintentionally or by chance. Example sentence: I accidentally left my wallet at home this morning.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You know that the only real alternative to watching a dozen How I Met Your Mother repeats in a row is for us to run into the streets screaming until we accidentally clatter into a polling booth.

The Guardian

Like Stalin! Bill / Sorry - She was too hot in her bikini, and I accidentally spilled baby oil over us.

The Guardian

I am now relying on the BBC investing in some Chinese government-style expertise to employ internet censors in Broadcasting House who can be relied on to block only any item which might upset the IOC lawyers – leaving me with the pleasure of hearing the racing tips, Vince Cable, and John Humphrys grumbling about any warm weather that accidentally comes to the UK.

The Guardian

Now, I don't know what prompted me to say what I said next, but as he handed me the prescription, I just blurted it out: "There's one more thing: When I was 14 years old, I shot my best friend in the face accidentally, and I watched him die".

The Guardian

There are gratuitous new restrictions on an already heavily curtailed right to strike, plans to rob the earnings of migrants who may work hard but lack the proper paperwork, and such a sweeping ban on legal highs that government lawyers could soon be fretting about accidentally criminalising sweets that give a sugar rush.

The Guardian - Opinion

Authorities say a man shot an armadillo, but ended up accidentally wounding his mother-in-law when the bullet ricocheted off the mammal's hard shell.

The Guardian

She was paralysed below the waist when she was accidentally shot by police seeking her son, Michael, during an early morning raid on her home.

The Guardian

The film ends with Vinz being accidentally shot dead by a policeman, who is taunting him with a gun.

The Guardian - Film

I didn't witness any rage at Gauguin, just a weary shuffling around, and a good deal of apologising to people you'd just trodden on or accidentally barged out of the way.

The Guardian - Arts

Confused by the incorrect airspeed readings, the pilot accidentally stalled the plane before it went into a spin and crashed into the sea, killing all on board.

The Guardian

Djalili stars as a proud muslim who accidentally discovers he is adopted – and was born Jewish – in this amiable farce penned by comedian David Baddiel.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "accidentally", ensure the context clearly indicates the lack of intent. Avoid ambiguity by placing it close to the verb it modifies.

Common error

Avoid using "accidentally" when there's a reasonable suspicion of deliberate action. Using it in such cases can undermine your credibility and make your writing sound disingenuous.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "accidentally" primarily functions to modify verbs, indicating that an action occurred without intention. As supported by Ludwig AI, it specifies the manner in which an action was performed, emphasizing the lack of deliberate intent.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "accidentally" serves as an adverb to denote actions performed without intent. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use, especially in News & Media. While seemingly straightforward, employing alternatives like "unintentionally" or "inadvertently" can add nuance depending on the desired emphasis. When writing, ensure that the context genuinely reflects a lack of deliberate action; misuse can weaken your message. Remember to differentiate it from similar terms like "incidentally", which refers to a secondary occurrence. Overall, "accidentally" provides a clear and concise way to convey that an action was not planned or intended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unintentionally

Focuses specifically on the lack of intention behind an action.

inadvertently

Highlights the lack of awareness or attention leading to the action.

unwittingly

Emphasizes that the person was unaware of the consequences of their action.

by mistake

A common and straightforward way to indicate an error or unintentional act.

by chance

Indicates that the event happened randomly or without planning.

incidentally

Suggests the event occurred as a minor or secondary consequence.

coincidentally

Highlights the simultaneous occurrence of events without a causal relationship.

fortuitously

Emphasizes the positive or lucky nature of the accidental event.

casually

Suggests the action was performed without much thought or deliberation.

without meaning to

A more verbose but clear way to express the lack of intention.

FAQs

How can I use "accidentally" in a sentence?

Use "accidentally" to indicate that an action happened unintentionally. For example, "I "accidentally" deleted the file."

What are some alternatives to saying "accidentally"?

You can use alternatives like "unintentionally", "inadvertently", or "by mistake" depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "accidentally" and "incidentally"?

"Accidentally" means unintentionally, while "incidentally" means happening as a minor consequence or accompaniment. They are not interchangeable.

When is it inappropriate to use the word "accidentally"?

It's best to avoid ""accidentally"" when the action in question is clearly deliberate or when there's significant doubt about the lack of intent. Using it in such cases can sound insincere.