encountered accidentally

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "encountered accidentally" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is found or met by chance, without intention. Example: "While cleaning the attic, I encountered accidentally an old photo album that brought back many memories."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

He told about three men he had encountered accidentally, briefly, & repeatedly over the years: a sergeant in the last war who, during the war gave a first-hand report of the shenanigans of certain American officers in the China-Burma-India China-Burma-India China-Burma-India Theater

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Even though I keep waiting for someone to call us out for being impostors, everyone we encounter or accidentally bump hats with is very polite, which is at once a relief and a disappointment.

Huffington Post

Certain tropical species can inflict painful bites on humans if handled or accidentally encountered.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The killing, after Mr. Mohammed accidentally encountered a Somali checkpoint, was a major loss for the terrorist network, still reeling from the assassination of its founder, Osama bin Laden, in Pakistan last month.

The New York Times

But now they will be getting some help from the American military, which previously operated under orders to ignore the drug traffickers, except for those accidentally encountered during military operations against the Taliban.

The New York Times

But I've never overheard a conversation quite like the one I accidentally encountered last Tuesday, when I met a source for lunch at BLT Steak, a downtown Washington steakhouse frequented by the capital's expense-account set.

The New York Times

In doing so, they accidentally encountered the vast riches of that continent, which had not in any way figured in their calculations, and found themselves in astonished possession of land, gold, diamonds and ivory.

The Guardian - Opinion

Since varicocele is a frequent condition, often accidentally encountered during US examination, it's indispensable to obtain functional data to direct exactly therapeutic management.

Insights into Imaging

Our view of active underground magmatic systems, and their relationships with the surrounding rocks, is basically speculation, as we do not directly observe them (with the negligible exception of geothermal drilling at the Krafla caldera, in Iceland, that accidentally encountered magma, Pàlsson et al. 2014; and of scientific drilling into the surficial Kilauea Iki lava lake, Heltz 1980 , 1987.

Journal of Applied Volcanology

There is nothing intelligent in this book let alone miraculous". I was suddenly bored, having accidentally encountered my own irritating opinion.

HuffPost

Accidentally encountering the wife of his philandering fellow commuter, Howard Dawes, Pete gave her a ride home and proceeded to have sex with her in the living room.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "encountered accidentally" to emphasize the unplanned and unexpected nature of a meeting or discovery. It is particularly useful in narratives or reports where the element of chance is important.

Common error

While "encountered accidentally" is grammatically correct, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Consider using synonyms like "stumbled upon" or "came across" to vary your language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "encountered accidentally" functions as a verb phrase with an adverb, modifying the verb to indicate the manner in which the encounter occurred. As Ludwig AI says, the phrase is grammatically correct, even if the sample is small.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Academia

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "encountered accidentally" is a grammatically sound way to describe an unplanned meeting or discovery. While infrequent in usage, as shown by the Ludwig AI, it effectively emphasizes the element of chance. Consider alternatives like "stumbled upon" or "came across" to avoid repetition and maintain a varied writing style. While not overly formal, its clear and precise meaning makes it suitable for a range of contexts, from news reports to scientific articles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stumbled upon unexpectedly

Emphasizes the unplanned and surprising nature of the encounter.

came across by chance

Highlights the accidental and random aspect of finding something.

discovered unintentionally

Focuses on the lack of intent in the discovery process.

met inadvertently

Emphasizes the unintentional nature of the meeting.

found by happenstance

Uses a more formal tone to describe a chance encounter.

ran into unexpectedly

Implies a brief and unplanned meeting.

accidentally discovered

Reverses the order of the words while keeping the meaning mostly intact.

unexpectedly located

Focuses on the surprising aspect of finding something.

chanced upon

Uses a more concise and somewhat literary alternative.

fortuitously encountered

Emphasizes the lucky or fortunate aspect of the encounter.

FAQs

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

You can use "encountered accidentally" to describe a situation where someone or something was found or met unexpectedly, such as, "While hiking, I encountered accidentally a hidden waterfall."

What are some alternatives to "encountered accidentally"?

Some alternatives include "stumbled upon", "came across", "discovered unintentionally", or "met inadvertently". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say "encountered accidentally"?

While "encounter" often implies an unplanned meeting, using "accidentally" clarifies the lack of intention. However, in some contexts, "encountered" alone might suffice.

What's the difference between "encountered accidentally" and "discovered accidentally"?

"Encountered accidentally" typically refers to people or beings, while "discovered accidentally" usually refers to objects, information, or places. However, the phrases are sometimes interchangeable.