this was accidental

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this was accidental" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something happened by chance or without intention. Example: "I didn't mean to spill the coffee; this was accidental."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Initially this was accidental.

The Economist

The two scripts are starkly different – Haunted Child has elements of a ghost story, Birthday employs devices from farce – but Penhall says this was accidental.

The Guardian

"I don't think any of this was accidental," said John Zippert, publisher of the weekly newspaper, The Greene County Democrat, which serves both counties, where a majority of the residents are black and where most of the elected officials are black.

The New York Times

Benezra mock-bristles at the notion that any of this was accidental.

Huffington Post

The CAS heard the case, and Petacchi testified to the court, stating that the hot and humid day on which the stage was the run had made it so that he took several extra puffs from his inhaler, but that this was accidental and that most had come after he had already crossed the finish line and won the stage.

Wikipedia

One of this was accidental in a battery charger, a clear occupational hazard but 3 others were clearly from assault and attempted homicide.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Some of this is accidental.

The Economist

None of this is accidental.

The Guardian - Opinion

For Klein none of this is accidental.

The Guardian - Books

"I do not think this is accidental".

The New York Times - Tech

In fact, we now think this is accidental.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "this was accidental", ensure the context clearly indicates that the event happened without intention or planning. This helps avoid misinterpretations and clarifies the nature of the occurrence.

Common error

Avoid using "this was accidental" when you mean "this was incidental". "Accidental" means unintentional, while "incidental" means occurring as a minor consequence. Use "this was accidental" only when the event was truly unplanned, not just a secondary effect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this was accidental" functions as a declarative statement, indicating that an event or action occurred unintentionally. Ludwig examples confirm its role in clarifying the absence of deliberate intent. As shown in the examples, the phrase is often used to provide context or excuse an unintended action.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "this was accidental" is a grammatically correct and usable expression for indicating that something occurred unintentionally. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to clarify the absence of deliberate intent behind an event. While not extremely common, it appears across diverse contexts, including news, academic writing, and general conversation, making it a versatile phrase. To avoid confusion, ensure it's used to describe genuinely unplanned events, differentiating it from similar concepts like 'incidental' occurrences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this occurred unintentionally

Replaces "was accidental" with a more formal term, focusing on the lack of intent.

this was unintentional

Uses a direct synonym for "accidental", maintaining a similar level of formality.

this was not deliberate

Focuses on the absence of intention or planning.

this happened by chance

Emphasizes the role of randomness in the event.

this simply occurred

A plain and direct way of stating that something happened without assigning blame or intent.

this was a coincidence

Highlights the unexpected and unplanned nature of the occurrence.

this was inadvertent

A more formal and less common synonym for accidental, stressing the lack of attention.

this was a fluke

Indicates an unusual and unlikely occurrence, often implying a positive outcome.

this was an oversight

Suggests that the event occurred due to a failure to notice or consider something.

this was fortuitous

Implies the event was accidental and also beneficial or lucky.

FAQs

What does "this was accidental" mean?

The phrase "this was accidental" means that something happened unintentionally, without planning or design. It implies a lack of deliberate action.

How can I use "this was accidental" in a sentence?

You can use "this was accidental" to explain an unintended action or outcome. For example, "I didn't mean to delete the file; "this was accidental"."

What can I say instead of "this was accidental"?

You can use alternatives like "this was unintentional", "this happened by chance", or "this was inadvertent" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "this was accidental" or "it was an accident"?

Both phrases are correct, but "this was accidental" often refers to a specific event or situation, while "it was an accident" is a more general statement. For example, "This was accidental, I didn't mean to step on your foot" versus "It was an accident; I didn't see the car coming".