pure chance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pure chance" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that happens solely by luck or without any other explanation. Example: "I didn't study for the test, so it was pure chance that I got an A."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Pure chance and wordplay.

Independent

Pure chance, maybe.

The New York Times

Pure chance, I imagine.

The Guardian

"Pure chance," he grins.

The Guardian - Sport

"That was pure chance," Rondinone said.

The New York Times

By pure chance I own Wallington.

The Guardian

I landed on your blog by pure chance!

Stanford University

We did have one other, brief meeting, by pure chance.

The New York Times

You could be saved by pure chance, or else ruined.

The New York Times

It was pure chance I had that experience.

The New York Times

"I found the necklace by pure chance," Mr. Nussbaum said.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pure chance" to emphasize the lack of predictability or control in a situation. It's particularly effective when contrasting with planned or intentional actions.

Common error

Avoid attributing successes or failures solely to skill when "pure chance" plays a significant role. Acknowledge the element of luck for a more accurate and balanced perspective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pure chance" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as an adverbial modifier to emphasize the randomness or lack of intention behind an event. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and provides numerous examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

23%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pure chance" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase in English to emphasize the role of randomness. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and appears across diverse fields like news, science, and academia. It functions primarily to highlight the absence of any discernible cause other than luck or randomness. When writing, use it to accurately convey that an event occurred without intention or planning and remember that overattributing results to skills may be inappropriate as "pure chance" may also be a factor to consider.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mere luck

Focuses on the role of luck as the only factor.

sheer accident

Emphasizes the unplanned and accidental nature of an event.

blind luck

Highlights the unpredictability and lack of foresight involved.

total randomness

Stresses the absence of any pattern or predictability.

fluke occurrence

Implies a rare and unusual event with no apparent cause.

random happenstance

Combines randomness with the idea of something occurring by chance.

coincidence

Highlights the simultaneous occurrence of events that appear meaningfully related but are not causally connected.

unforeseen event

Underlines the unexpected nature of the happening.

unexpected outcome

Focuses on the result being different from what was anticipated.

serendipitous discovery

Suggests a fortunate and unplanned discovery.

FAQs

How can I use "pure chance" in a sentence?

You can use "pure chance" to indicate that something happened without any planning or intention. For example, "It was "pure chance" that I met my best friend at the airport."

What are some alternatives to "pure chance"?

Alternatives to "pure chance" include "mere luck", "sheer accident", or "blind luck". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it redundant to say "pure chance"?

While "chance" inherently implies randomness, "pure chance" emphasizes the complete absence of any other influencing factors, making it a more emphatic expression.

What's the difference between "pure chance" and "coincidence"?

"Pure chance" refers to an event happening randomly without any discernible reason. "Coincidence", on the other hand, implies two or more events occurring together in a way that seems meaningful but is not causally related.