partly coincidental

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "partly coincidental" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or event that has some elements of coincidence but is not entirely based on chance. Example: "The success of the project was partly coincidental, as it aligned with market trends that were unforeseen."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Although the fact that Mr. Obama held the lead in so many polls is partly coincidental — there weren't any polls of North Carolina on Friday, for instance, which is Mr. Romney's strongest battleground state — they nevertheless represent powerful evidence against the idea that the race is a "tossup".

The New York Times

Lynn Vavreck of UCLA, coauthor of "The Gamble," thinks the pattern may be partly coincidental.

Los Angeles Times

These results were partly coincidental with those obtained from DGGE analysis.> -wrap-foot> B-1 to B-8 the strains of the cultivable bacteria, F-1 to F-7 the strains of the cultivable fungi aLength of 16S rDNA fragments bLength of 18S rDNA fragments Bacterial phylogenetic analysis was done based on the sequences of 14 DGGE bands and eight bacterial isolates (Fig.  4).

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The sea change is not coincidental: it partly reflects the growing demographic power ofHispanic people in the United States, and partly recognizes that the debate over the country's 11 million undocumented immigrants has, with the help of Donald Trump, shot to the top of the political agenda.

The Guardian

The resemblance is purely coincidental.

Independent

The notice of possession was purely coincidental".

The Guardian - Money

Again, Houghton thought this was purely coincidental.

The Guardian - Opinion

But, Landstrom stressed, that is purely coincidental.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Jane Collins insists the timing was "purely coincidental".

The Guardian

The timing was coincidental.

The New York Times

It really was coincidental.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "partly coincidental", ensure you clarify what other factors contributed to the event or situation, as the phrase implies that coincidence is not the sole cause.

Common error

Avoid using "partly coincidental" when coincidence is the primary or only explanation. The phrase implies a mix of factors, so it's misleading if coincidence is overwhelmingly responsible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "partly coincidental" functions as an adverbial modifier describing the extent to which something is coincidental. It suggests that while coincidence is a factor, it's not the sole or primary cause. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a valid and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "partly coincidental" is a grammatically sound and usable expression, indicating that an event or situation is coincidental to some extent, but not entirely. As Ludwig AI points out, it suggests a blend of chance and other contributing factors. Its usage is relatively rare, primarily appearing in News & Media and Scientific contexts. When using this phrase, ensure you clarify the other influencing elements to avoid implying that coincidence is the only reason. Alternatives like "somewhat coincidental" or "partially accidental" can offer similar nuances depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Somewhat coincidental

Replaces "partly" with "somewhat", indicating a slightly lesser degree of coincidence.

Partially accidental

Substitutes "coincidental" with "accidental", focusing on the unintentional aspect.

In part, a coincidence

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize the coincidence element.

Coincidental to some extent

Adds a qualifier to "coincidental", specifying the degree.

Coincidental in part

Inverts the structure to highlight the "coincidental" aspect.

Not entirely planned

Focuses on the lack of intention, rather than the presence of coincidence.

Fortuitous to a degree

Replaces "coincidental" with "fortuitous", emphasizing the beneficial aspect of the coincidence.

A happy accident, in part

Highlights the positive outcome of the partial accident.

Coincidental, but not wholly

Emphasizes that while there's a coincidence, it's not the only factor.

Coincidence played a role

States directly that coincidence was a factor, but doesn't quantify the degree.

FAQs

How can I use "partly coincidental" in a sentence?

You can use "partly coincidental" to describe events where chance plays a role, but other factors are also involved. For example: "The project's success was "partly coincidental", due to unexpected market trends."

What are some alternatives to "partly coincidental"?

Alternatives include "somewhat coincidental", "partially accidental", or "coincidental to some extent", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "entirely coincidental" instead of "partly coincidental"?

While "partly coincidental" indicates a partial role of chance, "entirely coincidental" means something is completely due to chance with no other influencing factors. Therefore, the choice depends on the context and the degree to which coincidence played a role.

What's the difference between "partly coincidental" and "partially intentional"?

"Partly coincidental" suggests chance played a role alongside other factors, whereas "partially intentional" implies that something was done with some degree of planning, but not completely. They describe opposite ends of the spectrum of intention.