accidentally forgot

USAGE SUMMARY

"accidentally forgot" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a mistake or an oversight, such as when someone has forgotten something they were supposed to do or remember. Example: I accidentally forgot to pick up the groceries on the way home from work.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Jay Z accidentally "forgot" he owned music streaming service Tidal in court this week.

Independent

Unfortunately, last night we accidentally forgot to tag an article containing a Flickr Flash interactive with the 'interactive' tag.

The Guardian

Once, when Dave accidentally forgot to pack our capons, my husband drove to Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, to pick them up.

The New York Times

When you're paying a dollar for a burger, is it the end of the world if I accidentally forgot to take the mustard off the order?

The Washington Post

74) Which word did Ed Miliband use no fewer than 51 times, in a speech during which he accidentally forgot the deficit?

The Guardian - Tech

Claudio Salerno, the Venezuelan climate envoy, acknowledged that she accidentally forgot to include a section on "intergenerational equity" – looking after our children and grandchildren – in the latest draft of the agreement.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Already I've "accidentally" forgotten to review about 10 of them.

The Washington Post

Was the use of lenses by painters a monopolized prerogative of their guild, accidentally forgotten after the guilds dissolved?

The New York Times - Arts

It's too easy to accidentally forget to turn on the encrypted mode, or get lazy and stop using it altogether.

The Guardian - Tech

OTHER There are other taxes that people accidentally "forget" to pay, or willfully ignore because they are costly, the best known being the nanny tax.

The New York Times

Forced to buy a laptop in order to work on the train, I had to consider the latest models, so swift, so dynamic, they might leap into your backpack lest you accidentally forget to tuck one in yourself.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "accidentally forgot", ensure the context clearly indicates the action was unintentional. This avoids any implication of deliberate omission or neglect.

Common error

Avoid using "accidentally forgot" repeatedly as a way to excuse a pattern of forgetfulness. While occasional mistakes are understandable, frequent use of the phrase can diminish its credibility and suggest a lack of responsibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "accidentally forgot" functions as a modifier emphasizing the unintentional nature of forgetting. It's typically used to soften the impact of admitting a mistake or oversight. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

24%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

8%

Social Media

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "accidentally forgot" is grammatically sound and used to describe an unintentional act of forgetting. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. While the phrase is considered uncommon, it is widely understood and accepted in various contexts. The most frequent contexts are News & Media and Wiki, denoting a neutral register suitable for general communication. To ensure clarity and avoid overuse, consider alternatives like "simply forgot" or "inadvertently omitted" depending on the situation. Remember to use it genuinely, as frequent misuse to excuse negligence can undermine its credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

simply forgot

This alternative is the most direct. It omits "accidentally" and relies on context to imply the oversight.

inadvertently omitted

Replaces "forgot" with a more formal synonym, "omitted", and uses "inadvertently" to emphasize the accidental nature.

by mistake, forgot

This alternative is less common, it rephrases the sentence structure to put emphasis on the mistake.

unintentionally left out

Focuses on the action of leaving something out without intending to, providing a slightly more descriptive alternative.

failed to remember

This alternative is less direct and shifts the focus to the failure of memory rather than accidental action.

unwittingly overlooked

Emphasizes a lack of awareness when forgetting, suggesting that the oversight happened without conscious knowledge.

happened to forget

This alternative is less formal, it uses a more conversational tone.

missed to include

This alternative is less formal. It focuses on the omission, using simpler language.

negligently disregarded

Implicates a degree of carelessness or negligence in the act of forgetting, indicating a failure to pay due attention.

erroneously skipped

This alternative is slightly more formal, suggesting a mistake in skipping something.

FAQs

How can I use "accidentally forgot" in a sentence?

You can use "accidentally forgot" to describe unintentionally overlooking something, like "I accidentally forgot to bring my lunch today."

What can I say instead of "accidentally forgot"?

You can use alternatives like "simply forgot", "unintentionally left out", or "inadvertently omitted" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "accidentally forgot"?

While "forgot" often implies unintentionality, using "accidentally forgot" emphasizes the lack of intention. It's useful when you want to be extra clear about the unintentional nature of the oversight.

What's the difference between "accidentally forgot" and "negligently forgot"?

"Accidentally forgot" implies a simple oversight, while "negligently forgot" suggests a failure to exercise reasonable care. Negligence implies a greater degree of responsibility and potential blame.