incidental activities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "incidental activities" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to activities that are secondary or not the main focus, often occurring alongside primary tasks or events. Example: "During the conference, we will also have some incidental activities, such as networking sessions and informal discussions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

These are not incidental activities.

The Guardian

Part of the art of the professional chess player is to unsettle one's opponent as much as possible by small but legitimate annoying incidental activities, such as yawning, looking at one's watch, and snapping one's fingers softly — at all of which Kubrick is highly skilled.

The New Yorker

These women reported that physical activity is typically considered to be structured "exercise" and not incidental activities of daily life.

Women's Health Issues

Behaviorally, prolonged sitting displaces opportunities for engagement in light-intensity incidental activities that can lead to a reduction in whole-body energy expenditure (17).

Diabetes Care

Most participants described daily activities such as sweeping, vacuuming and washing clothes as physical activities, however a small number of participants were unsure whether such incidental activities were considered as physical activities.

BMC Public Health

Free-living PA variables incorporate all incidental activities, some or all of which might be considered non-volitional and may include daily activities expected to have no or even a negative impact on mental well-being such as housework or transportation.

American Journal of Preventive Medicine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

However, some individuals seemed encouraged to be outdoors more, which probably involved more incidental activity, and children used the new space for active play.

Health and Place

In the US, the Center for Active Design encourages stair use – as does the NHS – and the health injunctions for "incidental activity" are growing, with stair climbing an obvious first step.

The Guardian

Other pages, filled with complicated incidental activity, feel too scattered and wrong, however, for its four simple and young-feeling stories.

The New York Times - Books

Physical activity advice primarily encouraged women to increase their amount of walking and incidental activity [ 19].

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

21 Physical activity advice primarily encouraged women to increase their amount of walking and incidental activity.

British Medical Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "incidental activities", ensure the context clearly establishes the primary activity these actions are secondary to. This helps avoid ambiguity and ensures clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "incidental activities" to describe core or essential functions. This diminishes the importance of those actions and can misrepresent their role.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "incidental activities" functions as a noun phrase where "incidental" modifies the noun "activities". It typically refers to secondary or non-essential actions that occur alongside or as a result of more significant or planned events. Ludwig confirms that this is a grammatically correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

67%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "incidental activities" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe secondary or supplementary actions. As Ludwig highlights, it's most commonly found in scientific and news media contexts, denoting tasks of lesser importance that accompany primary functions. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly defines the primary activities to avoid any ambiguity. Alternatives such as "secondary actions" or "supporting tasks" can provide similar meanings depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

secondary actions

Focuses on the secondary nature of the activities.

unplanned tasks

Emphasizes the lack of planning behind the actions.

minor operations

Highlights the relatively small scale or importance.

additional pursuits

Stresses the supplementary aspect of the activities.

associated tasks

Indicates the activities are linked to something else.

accompanying actions

Highlights the activities occur together with something else.

peripheral engagements

Highlights the activities' marginal relevance.

side involvements

Indicates the activities are not central.

casual endeavors

Emphasizes the informality or lack of seriousness.

unintentional acts

Highlights the lack of intention or purpose behind the activities.

FAQs

How can I appropriately use "incidental activities" in a sentence?

Use "incidental activities" to refer to actions that are secondary or not the main focus of a particular situation. For example: "Besides the main research project, there were several /s/supporting+tasks target="_blank" rel="nofollow">supporting tasks such as data entry and analysis."

What are some alternatives to "incidental activities"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "secondary actions", "unplanned tasks", or "minor operations" to convey a similar meaning.

How do "incidental activities" differ from planned activities?

"Incidental activities" are unplanned and often occur as a result of or alongside other primary activities, while planned activities are structured and intentionally scheduled. One is the complement of the other.

Is it correct to use "incidental activities" to describe essential job functions?

No, it is not appropriate. "Incidental activities" should describe tasks that are secondary or supplementary. Core job functions should be described using more appropriate terms such as "essential duties" or "primary responsibilities".