complete coincidence

USAGE SUMMARY

"complete coincidence" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe when something happens that could not have been planned or predicted. For example, "It was a complete coincidence that we ran into each other at the mall."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Complete coincidence.

The New York Times

"That was a complete coincidence," said Mikey.

The Guardian

It's a complete coincidence, albeit a quite bizarre one".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Or is this just an attempt to make an issue out of a complete coincidence?

The Guardian

"Obviously it's complete coincidence – well, hopefully it is – but we have got much more paranoid certainly".

The Guardian

I didn't know it was part of Goodison Park – a complete coincidence.

The Guardian - Sport

A full moon will fall on Christmas Day this year – a complete coincidence, according to Swift.

The Guardian

"It's a complete coincidence, but it' s a very nice coincidence" declared Ms Ashton.

The Economist

Fortunately, by complete coincidence, I had sold eighty-seven million dollars' worth of shares the week before.

The New Yorker

In this context the general increase in touchy-feeliness over recent decades doesn't seem a complete coincidence.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It's by complete coincidence then that thanks to a pretty serious train, her dress also closely resembled a cheese omelette.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "complete coincidence", ensure the context clearly indicates that the events are unrelated and unplanned. This helps avoid misinterpretations and emphasizes the role of chance.

Common error

Avoid implying a causal relationship immediately after stating something is a "complete coincidence". The phrase aims to negate any intentional connection; introducing causation afterwards creates confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "complete coincidence" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as a subject complement or an appositive to describe a situation or event that occurred purely by chance. Ludwig AI confirms this is a grammatically correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

19%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "complete coincidence" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe events that occur purely by chance, without any intention or planning. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across varied source types, including news, science, and business. When writing, be sure to emphasize the lack of intentional connection when using the phrase. Some alternatives for "complete coincidence" include "sheer fluke", "pure happenstance", and "total accident". The phrase's neutrality makes it suitable for various registers, though it's most frequently found in news and media contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sheer fluke

Emphasizes the accidental and improbable nature of the event, reducing any implication of cause.

pure happenstance

Highlights the role of chance in the occurrence, using a slightly more formal tone.

total accident

Focuses on the unintentional aspect of the event, suggesting it was not planned.

random occurrence

Stresses the lack of pattern or predictability in the event.

chance event

Underscores that the outcome was determined by luck or fortune.

fortunate accident

Highlights the positive results or outcome of the coincidence.

unexpected convergence

Implies two or more things came together without prior intention.

unforeseen alignment

Indicates that elements lined up unexpectedly, creating a unique situation.

serendipitous meeting

Suggests a happy or beneficial chance encounter.

blind luck

Highlights the role of chance in the event, emphasizing that it was purely based on good fortune.

FAQs

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

You can use "complete coincidence" to emphasize that an event occurred purely by chance and without any planning or intention. For instance, "It was a complete coincidence that we both chose the same restaurant."

What are some alternatives to saying "complete coincidence"?

Alternatives include "sheer fluke", "pure happenstance", or "total accident", each conveying a similar sense of unplanned occurrence.

Is it correct to say "whole coincidence" instead of "complete coincidence"?

While "whole coincidence" might be understood, "complete coincidence" is the more standard and widely accepted phrase. Using "complete" adds emphasis to the randomness of the event.

What's the difference between "complete coincidence" and "unexpected convergence"?

"Complete coincidence" emphasizes the lack of any intended connection between events. "Unexpected convergence", on the other hand, suggests that separate things came together in a surprising way, which may or may not have involved pure chance.