coincidental timing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'coincidental timing' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to convey when two events seem to be connected, even if it is merely by happenstance. For example, "John's return to town coincided with the news of his brother's death, an example of coincidental timing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

(In a 1999 memoir, Mr. McCain acknowledged the coincidental timing but still emphasized Nixon's role).

The New York Times

Yet it should have been trumpeted, all the more for its coincidental timing.

The New York Times

The coincidental timing of the new wing's début invites each of us to a personal Arab Spring.

The New Yorker

The coincidental timing of the video added to the urgency of a case the judge has called "extraordinary and unique".

The New York Times

The coincidental timing — a new pandemic, a new machine — "opened the floodgates," said Jose Garcia, a cardiac surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital.

The New Yorker

Or was it just coincidental timing, that the first cases were recorded soon after the adventurers' triumphant return to the Old World?

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Two weeks later, in a stroke of not-coincidental timing, Brewer signed SB 1070 the controversial "papers, please" law to aggressively crack down on undocumented immigrants, a headache for the Obama administration's Justice Department and an ideological and cultural touchstone that galvanized the right.

Vice

The removal of Rezulin, a diabetes drug, and the restrictions on Propulsid, a medication for severe heartburn, were coincidental in timing, but served as a double-barreled call to action for lawyers who specialize in large-scale litigation involving products to which illness or injury have been attributed.

The New York Times

While coincidental, the timing couldn't be better.

Los Angeles Times

This is probably due to an entirely coincidental quirk of timing - Stonehouse's troubles were taking place at the same time as The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin was being shown on television.

The Guardian

The choice of Pella for the visit seemed no more coincidental than the timing.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "coincidental timing", ensure the context clearly indicates which events are coincidentally timed. Ambiguity can arise if the events are not explicitly stated.

Common error

Avoid assuming that because two events occurred with "coincidental timing", one caused the other. Coincidence does not equal causation. Further investigation is needed to prove a causal relationship.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "coincidental timing" functions as a noun phrase, where "coincidental" modifies the noun "timing". It describes the temporal relationship between two or more events that occur simultaneously or in close succession, suggesting a lack of planned connection. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable grammatical structure.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Science

14%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "coincidental timing" is a valid and useful phrase for describing events that happen around the same time without a clear causal connection. As indicated by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media. While it doesn't imply a direct relationship between events, it often suggests that the timing is noteworthy. When employing this phrase, make sure to clearly state the events involved and avoid jumping to conclusions about causation. Alternatives like "fortuitous synchronicity" or "accidental synchronization" can provide subtle variations in tone and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fortuitous synchronicity

Replaces "timing" with "synchronicity" and "coincidental" with "fortuitous", implying a lucky accident.

accidental synchronization

Replaces "timing" with "synchronization" and "coincidental" with "accidental", highlighting that the events lined up unintentionally.

chance concurrence

Substitutes "coincidental" with "chance" and "timing" with "concurrence", emphasizing the accidental nature of the simultaneous events.

unplanned coincidence

Swaps "timing" with "coincidence" and adds "unplanned" for emphasis, focusing on the lack of intention behind the events.

random convergence

Replaces "timing" with "convergence" and "coincidental" with "random", pointing out the unpredictable nature of the timing.

unexpected simultaneity

Uses "simultaneity" instead of "timing" and "unexpected" instead of "coincidental" to suggest the surprising overlap.

serendipitous juncture

Replaces "timing" with "juncture" and "coincidental" with "serendipitous", giving a tone of fortunate accident.

fluke occurrence

Emphasizes that the particular timing was an improbable anomaly, rather than something planned.

odd juxtaposition

Focuses on the unusual positioning of events in time, using "juxtaposition" instead of "timing" and describing it as "odd".

lucky break

Represents the idea of "coincidental timing" in a more concise way, implying that the fortunate timing was more important than the coincidence itself.

FAQs

How can I use "coincidental timing" in a sentence?

You can use "coincidental timing" to describe two or more events happening around the same time without a clear cause-and-effect relationship. For example, "The company's restructuring had a "coincidental timing" with the CEO's resignation."

What's a more formal way to say "coincidental timing"?

In formal writing, you might replace "coincidental timing" with phrases like "fortuitous synchronicity" or "chance concurrence" for a similar, but more elevated, tone.

Is it appropriate to use "coincidental timing" in academic writing?

Yes, "coincidental timing" is appropriate for academic writing as long as it's used accurately to describe events that happen at the same time without an established causal link.

What are some alternatives to "coincidental timing" that emphasize the unexpected nature of the events?

Alternatives that highlight the unexpectedness include phrases like "unplanned coincidence", "accidental synchronization", or "random convergence".