it was accident

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was accident" is not correct in English.
The correct form is "it was an accident." You can use this phrase when explaining that something happened unintentionally or by mistake. Example: "I didn't mean to break the vase; it was an accident."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In part, he says, it was accident.

The Guardian - Books

It could, and should, have been more, but the Spurs manager said: "Now we can say it was accident against Newcastle.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Although the highway was designed and built to what were, at the time, high standards, with a 100-foot (30 m) wide right-of-way in most places, it was accident-prone because it lacked a median barrier.

Wikipedia

"It was an accident".

The New York Times - Sports

It was their accident.

The New York Times - Books

It was a accident.

The New Yorker

It was sheer accident".

The New York Times

"It was an accident," Alec began.

The New Yorker

"It was an accident," the woman said.

The New York Times

Sports experts said it was no accident.

The New York Times - Sports

Prosecutors said it was no accident.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the grammatically correct form, "it was an accident", in formal writing to maintain clarity and credibility.

Common error

Do not omit the article "an" before "accident". Saying "it was accident" is grammatically incorrect and may confuse your readers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was accident" is intended to function as a statement explaining that an event occurred unintentionally. However, it is grammatically incorrect, according to Ludwig AI, lacking the necessary article "an" before "accident".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "it was accident" is used to express that something happened unintentionally, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates the correct form is "it was an accident". Although it appears in various sources, including news and media, its use should be limited to informal contexts. For formal writing, it's best to use the grammatically correct form or alternatives like "it happened by mistake" or "it was unintentional".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was an accident

This is the grammatically correct form of the original phrase.

it happened by mistake

Focuses on the error or unintentional nature of the event.

it was unintentional

Highlights the lack of intent behind the action.

it was inadvertent

Emphasizes that the action was not properly considered.

it occurred unexpectedly

Focuses on the surprise or unforeseen nature of the event.

it was unplanned

Highlights the absence of a prior plan or intention.

it was coincidental

Suggests that the event happened by chance or coincidence.

it was a fluke

Implies that the event was an unusual and unlikely occurrence.

it was circumstantial

Indicates that the event depended on specific circumstances.

it was a slip-up

Describes a minor error or mistake that occurred unintentionally.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "it was accident"?

The correct way to say it is "it was an accident". The article "an" is required before the noun "accident".

Can I use "it was accident" in informal conversation?

While you might hear "it was accident" in some informal contexts, it's best to use the grammatically correct phrase "it was an accident" even in casual speech to avoid sounding uneducated.

What are some alternatives to saying "it was an accident"?

You can use alternatives like "it happened by mistake", "it was unintentional", or "it was a mistake" to convey a similar meaning.

Is there a difference between saying "it was accident" and "it was no accident"?

Yes, "it was no accident" means the event was intentional or planned. In contrast, saying "it was accident" (incorrectly) is meant to imply that something occurred unintentionally.