incidentally

USAGE SUMMARY

"incidentally" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an adverb which is used to introduce an additional fact or comment which is related to the main topic of conversation. For example, "I was talking to my neighbor yesterday, incidentally, he mentioned something interesting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

One of the unexpected pleasures of this magical island, incidentally, is how more or less everyone has a passionate interest in the English Premiership.

The Guardian - Travel

Osborne, incidentally, has learned both sides of the lesson: with Help to Buy, he will create a small number of homeowners who have him to thank for their purchase.

The Guardian - Opinion

Greste, incidentally, is being held on the same wing as activist Alaa Abd el Fattah, arrested in December on charges related to a protest held in violation of a new law that criminalises political gatherings of more than 10 people held without the police's permission.

The Guardian - Opinion

It could also be argued that the union campaign might have incidentally benefited the Liberal Democrats, who spent paltry sums compared with the two main parties.

The Guardian

Incidentally, on how many networked TV comedy shows would 100% of the guests be female?

The Guardian

Incidentally, Crumb and his colleagues and backers aren't positioning their business as a way to speculate on gold prices, although even a casual glance at the company's stock price suggests that's precisely how some of their investors view it.

The Guardian - Money

Incidentally, the unheralded news from Monday's announcement might be that spending on maintenance is going to be less than planned for: Action for Roads talks of another £12bn for maintenance; Monday's Road Investment Strategy speaks of "more than £10bn" additional money for maintenance of national and local roads.

The Guardian

The Sun, boosted by its cheap holidays offer, did best of all, recording a 4.57% rise (and, incidentally, we must wait until next month to assess the effect of its dropping Page 3).

The Guardian

Dortmund were one of the clubs in favour of embracing the 21st century, incidentally, but that was scant consolation when they found themselves on the wrong end of another wrong goalline decision in their 2-0 DFB Cup final defeat to Bayern.

The Guardian - Sport

I spoke to Irene Picton from the Young Readers Programme at the National Literacy Trust (literacytrust.org.uk) – incidentally, Picton didn't learn to read till she was seven.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Incidentally I'm getting a lot of questions about what the Brownlees are like - you can read the longer answer in my piece below, but the short answer is that they're both top blokes.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "incidentally" to add related but non-essential information without disrupting the main flow of your writing. This helps maintain clarity while providing context.

Common error

Avoid using "incidentally" too frequently, as it can make your writing seem disjointed or unfocused. Choose more direct transitions or integrate the information seamlessly into your sentences.

Linguistic Context

"Incidentally" primarily functions as a sentence adverb. It serves to introduce a piece of information that is related to the main topic but not essential to it. As Ludwig AI explains, it's a way to add a tangential remark. The examples show its use in adding context or additional detail.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Unknown

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "incidentally" is a versatile adverb used to smoothly insert related but non-essential information into writing or conversation. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically sound and very common, particularly in news and media contexts. While helpful for providing extra context, avoid overuse to maintain focus. Consider alternatives like "by the way" or "apropos" for variety. Remember, "incidentally" should enhance, not distract from, your core message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by the way

Indicates a shift in topic or the introduction of related but not central information.

apropos

Introduces something connected with what has just been said.

in passing

Mentions something briefly and casually.

as an aside

Introduces a comment that is not directly related to the main subject.

parenthetically

Adds extra information or an explanation within parentheses.

en passant

Mentions something briefly and in passing, often in a formal or literary context.

in parenthesis

Refers to information added as an aside, similar to 'parenthetically'.

by the bye

An older, less common equivalent of 'by the way'.

on a side note

Signals the introduction of a related but tangential observation.

tangentially

Introduces a point that is only slightly related to the main subject.

FAQs

How can I use "incidentally" in a sentence?

Use "incidentally" to introduce a related but not essential piece of information. For example: "I was talking to John, and "incidentally", he mentioned your name."

What words are similar to "incidentally"?

Alternatives to "incidentally" include "by the way", "apropos", and "as an aside", each adding a slightly different nuance to how you introduce tangential information.

Is there a difference between "incidentally" and "accidentally"?

"Incidentally" means 'by the way' or 'in passing', introducing a related but non-essential fact. "Accidentally", on the other hand, means 'unintentionally' or 'by chance'. They are not interchangeable.

When is it appropriate to use "incidentally" in formal writing?

"Incidentally" can be used in formal writing to add extra details smoothly. However, ensure the added information is relevant and doesn't distract from the main point. Other options, such as "furthermore" or "moreover" might be better if you want to emphasize a stronger connection.