bad coincidence

USAGE SUMMARY

'bad coincidence' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when there is an unexpected and unfortunate event or series of events. For example: "It was a bad coincidence that my car broke down right before my big presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"But honestly, it's just a bad coincidence".

Independent

A woman working at a nearby noodle shop called it "a bad coincidence".

The New York Times

"It is a very good coincidence for the Greek people but a very bad coincidence for those who want to connect it to the memoranda".

The Guardian

But while those instances were mainly matters of bad coincidence, drug-related deaths have dogged EDC since well before the movie began shooting.

Los Angeles Times

Pace was reminded of a confusing movie he had seen many years before, Orpheus Looks Back, in which a detective investigating a murder says to his partner, "There's no such thing as a bad coincidence".

Vice

(Mother 88) There was a mix of such perceptions behind an injury including simple bad coincidence, bad luck, witchcraft, ill-fate and the preventability of injuries.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Imprisoned because he was unlucky, victim to so many bad coincidences on the day Hae Min Lee went missing that a case – an unquestionably wonky case – could be built against him?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Perrow observed that, as technological systems become ever more complex, disasters that appear to result from a confluence of bad coincidences become, in fact, unavoidable, as a failure in one part causes a failure in another and another in ways that no designer could predict.

The New Yorker

"Most don't attribute this sequence of events to a bad actor, just a series of bugs and bad coincidences," Conant says.

TechCrunch

If your date chose a bad restaurant followed by a terrible movie, perhaps that is just a series of bad coincidences and your date feels just as bad as you but is too afraid to speak up.

WikiHow

Landsburg considers a couple of harmless explanations — coincidence, bad statistics — but also some causal ones.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "bad coincidence", ensure the context clearly establishes an unexpected and unfortunate connection between events. Avoid using it when the connection is intentional or directly caused.

Common error

Avoid attributing causality to events that merely occur together by "bad coincidence". Ensure that there's no underlying mechanism before suggesting that one event caused the other.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bad coincidence" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a specific instance of unfortunate events aligning in an unexpected way, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bad coincidence" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe unfortunate and unexpected alignment of events. Ludwig AI shows the phrase is most commonly found in news and media contexts, with a neutral register suitable for general usage. When using "bad coincidence", it's essential to ensure a clear and unintended connection exists between the events and be cautious of assuming causation. Alternative phrases such as "unfortunate turn of events" or "unlucky break" can provide alternative ways to express a similar concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unfortunate confluence of events

Replaces "coincidence" with a more formal phrase, emphasizing the negative outcome of events coming together.

unlucky break

Shifts the focus to bad luck rather than a chance alignment of events.

tragic happenstance

Emphasizes the tragic nature of the event, suggesting more severe consequences.

unfortunate turn of events

Focuses on the change in circumstances leading to a negative outcome.

ill-fated occurrence

Highlights the negative fate or destiny associated with the event.

unpropitious timing

Centers on the unfavorable timing of the event.

inopportune moment

Highlights the unsuitability of the timing.

grievous accident

Suggests that the event was harmful and detrimental.

adverse circumstance

Focuses on the unfavorable conditions surrounding an event.

karmic misfortune

Introduces the idea of karma as the cause of misfortune, adding a philosophical dimension.

FAQs

How can I use "bad coincidence" in a sentence?

You can use "bad coincidence" to describe an unfortunate event that seems to be the result of chance. For example, "It was a "bad coincidence" that the printer broke down right before I had to print my presentation".

What are some alternatives to saying "bad coincidence"?

Alternatives include "unfortunate turn of events", "unlucky break", or "tragic happenstance", depending on the severity and context.

Is it always appropriate to use the phrase "bad coincidence"?

No, it's important to use it when there's a genuinely unexpected and unfortunate connection. If the event is directly caused or easily predictable, it might not be the best choice.

What's the difference between "bad coincidence" and "bad luck"?

"Bad coincidence" implies a connection between separate events, while "bad luck" refers to a general state of misfortune without necessarily implying a connection between events.