accidentally lost

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "accidentally lost" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that was misplaced or lost unintentionally. Example: "I accidentally lost my keys while running errands yesterday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

Some are accidentally lost during storms, or dumped deliberately.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

According to Donat's biography, Hitchcock "accidentally" lost the key after handcuffing him to Carroll at their first rehearsal.

The Guardian - Film

If such a horn is accidentally lost it is not regenerated; this is unlike the situation in deer, in which normal shedding is followed by regrowth.

Encyclopedia Britannica

And there are no Cuban cigars liberated from a lorry carrying South American goods that tipped over during last month's storm and accidentally lost part of its load.

The Guardian - Music

Time is running out: Lola has just received a frantic call from her boyfriend Manni, who's accidentally lost a small fortune he was to deliver to his mobster boss.

University of California, Berkeley

Because death has been universally feared but rarely accepted as a natural necessity, the mythologies of many peoples represent the primeval ancestors of humankind as having accidentally lost, in some way, their original immortality.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

A well-designed database provides ways to eliminate much data redundancy, enforce data consistency, allow data entry as needed without requiring "extra" data, and allow data deletion without accidentally losing useful data.

Relational Database Design Clearly Explained

"I said that if I can prevent one person from accidentally losing their vote, that was worth the price of admission".

The New York Times

I replied as any truth-hunting anthropologist would in my position: "Normal people might think this is due to them accidentally losing their phone, or maybe even finding The One.

Independent

Nasby indicted the general for failing to accidentally lose even more Union troops during his disastrous campaigns, leaving too many supposedly abolitionist soldiers "to live and vote agin us".

The New York Times

Dr. Benacerraf argues that with these data, the risk of missing a fetus with a neural tube defect when amniocentesis is not elected is less than the risk of accidentally losing a normal pregnancy when amniocentesis is chosen.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "accidentally lost", ensure the context clearly indicates the unintentional nature of the loss. Avoid ambiguity by specifying what was lost and the general circumstances.

Common error

Avoid using "accidentally lost" when the loss resulted from clear negligence or recklessness. "Lost due to negligence" is more accurate if someone failed to take reasonable care.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "accidentally lost" functions as a past participle phrase, where "accidentally" modifies the verb "lost". Ludwig AI confirms this construction is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Academia

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "accidentally lost" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe the unintentional misplacement or loss of something. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its widespread use across various contexts, including news, science, and general writing. While alternatives like "unintentionally misplaced" exist, "accidentally lost" maintains a neutral tone suitable for diverse situations. When using the phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates the lack of intent and avoid using it when negligence is involved. The phrase is prevalent in sources like The Guardian, Encyclopedia Britannica, and Forbes highlighting its reliability and frequency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inadvertently misplaced

Highlights the unintentional nature of the misplacement, rather than the loss itself.

unintentionally misplaced

Emphasizes lack of intent in misplacing something.

carelessly misplaced

Highlights a lack of care leading to misplacement.

mistakenly discarded

Focuses on the error of discarding something thinking it was not valuable or needed.

by accident misplaced

Uses a more descriptive adjective to describe an unintentional mistake

incidentally lost

Suggests the loss happened as a minor event in connection with something else.

unwittingly parted with

Emphasizes lack of awareness when losing something, often of sentimental value.

involuntarily shed

Suggests a loss that occurred without conscious control, more poetic.

unconsciously shed

Implies a lack of awareness in the action of shedding something, either emotionally or physically.

casually shed

Highlights a careless way to detach from something, with a more emotional association.

FAQs

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

You can use "accidentally lost" to describe something you unintentionally misplaced or lost. For example, "I "accidentally lost" my keys this morning."

What's a more formal way to say "accidentally lost"?

In more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "unintentionally misplaced" or "inadvertently lost" as alternatives to "accidentally lost".

Is it correct to say "accidently lost" instead of "accidentally lost"?

"Accidently lost" is less common and less accepted than "accidentally lost". It's preferable to use the adverb "accidentally".

What are common things people "accidentally lose"?

People commonly "accidentally lose" items like keys, wallets, phones, or documents. The phrase is applicable to any item that is misplaced or lost unintentionally.