by coincidence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by coincidence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation in which two or more events occur around the same time that seem unlikely to be related but are not necessarily caused by one another. For example, "The two of us had been planning a vacation to the same destination for months, and by coincidence we ended up on the same flight."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

By coincidence.

The Guardian

"This isn't by coincidence.

The Guardian

"That's not by coincidence.

The New York Times - Sports

I started designing restaurants exclusively, by coincidence.

The New York Times

In American business, nothing happens by coincidence.

The New York Times

This doesn't just happen by coincidence".

The New York Times

The plot is furthered by coincidence.

The New Yorker

Jaymo We met by coincidence.

The Guardian - Money

They came to Post by coincidence.

The New York Times - Sports

"By coincidence, neither did his father".

The New York Times

He is not here by coincidence".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "by coincidence" to highlight an event that occurred without intention or planning, emphasizing the lack of a direct causal link. It's effective for narrative development or explaining unexpected situations.

Common error

Avoid using "by coincidence" when there is a clear underlying cause for the event. Overusing it in such contexts can diminish the impact and make the writing seem less credible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by coincidence" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate that an event occurred without planning or intention. Ludwig AI indicates it as correct and usable in written English. The phrase adds information about how or under what circumstances something happened.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Wiki

10%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "by coincidence" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to denote unplanned or unintentional occurrences. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness, and its frequent appearance across diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media, underscores its broad applicability. When using "by coincidence", ensure that the situation genuinely lacks a direct causal connection to maintain clarity and credibility. For situations where you want to express randomness or unexpectedness, alternatives such as "by chance", "accidentally", or "unintentionally" can also be used.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by chance

Indicates an event happening randomly, similar to "by coincidence" but emphasizes lack of intent.

by happenstance

Emphasizes the accidental nature of an event, maintaining a high degree of similarity with "by coincidence".

as it happened

Focuses on the occurrence of an event without prior planning, closely resembling "by coincidence".

as luck would have it

Suggests a fortunate aspect of the coincidental event, adding a layer of serendipity.

incidentally

Highlights that the event is a secondary or unexpected occurrence, maintaining similarity with "by coincidence".

fortuitously

Similar to "by coincidence" but suggests a fortunate and unexpected outcome.

unexpectedly

Focuses on the surprise element of the event, differing slightly from "by coincidence" which implies a lack of planned connection.

unintentionally

Emphasizes the lack of intent, which is an element shared with "by coincidence".

without planning

Indicates the absence of a deliberate arrangement, which is a facet of "by coincidence".

as fate would have it

Implies that a coincidental event was predetermined, adding a sense of destiny not necessarily present in "by coincidence".

FAQs

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

You can use "by coincidence" to indicate that two or more things happened at the same time without being planned or caused by each other. For example, "We both chose the same restaurant, "by coincidence"".

What's a good alternative to "by coincidence"?

Alternatives include "by chance", "accidentally", or "unintentionally". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always necessary to use "by coincidence" or can the sentence be restructured?

Sometimes, restructuring the sentence can be more effective. Instead of "By coincidence, we met at the airport", you could say "We happened to meet at the airport" or "We unexpectedly met at the airport".

What is the nuance between "by chance" and "by coincidence"?

"By chance" emphasizes randomness and the lack of predictability, while "by coincidence" highlights the simultaneous occurrence of events that are not causally linked but are surprisingly related.