this was unintentional

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this was unintentional" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to clarify that an action or outcome occurred without intention or planning. Example: "I apologize for the misunderstanding; this was unintentional and I did not mean to offend anyone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Hanscombe says that this was unintentional – it was just that the Nickells could not seem to abide by his rules and after one visit to his grandparents Alex returned upset.

The Guardian

The Beautiful Tree misleads the reader – Tooley insists this was unintentional and blames the editors – into thinking that, in 2000, he was still a socialist by conviction who had somehow drifted into working for the World Bank and was converted in Hyderabad to the glories of private education.

The Guardian

Actually, as I was writing this very paragraph, the video was taken down, so I'm guessing this was unintentional.

TechCrunch

Grant says this was unintentional, and that it was not being used to keep the app alive — yet it did as a byproduct of the bug.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

None of this is unintentional.

Huffington Post

However, this is unintentional on your part, which can serve to show you that your perception of reality is a bit off.

WikiHow

And that was unintentional".

Los Angeles Times

This is similar to when you close a music app and want to keep listening to the music while you do other things, except in this case it was unintentional and nothing kept playing.

TechCrunch

Throughout the snot bubbles, urine bags and ageing crotch gags of the Farrellys' latest, I counted a mere three chuckles (one of which I'm fairly sure was unintentional), leaving this several smiles shy of even the widely panned 2003 prequel Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd.

The Guardian - Film

Their unity was unintentional.

The New Yorker

"It was unintentional".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "this was unintentional", clearly state what "this" refers to in the immediate context to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid overuse by considering synonyms like "accidental", "inadvertent", or "mistaken" to add variety to your writing. When possible, replace "this was unintentional" with more specific descriptions of what happened.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this was unintentional" primarily functions as a statement of clarification or explanation. It's used to negate any implication of deliberate action, as shown in Ludwig's examples where actions are attributed to errors or bugs, not malicious intent. The function is to remove or prevent blame.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "this was unintentional" serves to clarify that an action or outcome occurred without intent or planning. Ludwig AI confirms that its use is grammatically correct. While relatively rare, it finds its place in various contexts, including news, general knowledge, and scientific discussions. When employing this phrase, clarity is key: ensure the referent of "this" is immediately clear to avoid ambiguity. Consider synonyms like "accidental" or "inadvertent" to enhance your writing and avoid overusing "unintentional". This will ensure the readers do not believe that "this was unintentional" was deliberate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it happened inadvertently

Focuses on the accidental nature of the event.

it occurred by mistake

Highlights the role of error in the occurrence.

it wasn't meant to happen

Emphasizes the lack of intention behind the event.

it was an accident

Directly states the event was not planned.

it was not on purpose

Clarifies the absence of deliberate action.

it was not deliberate

Similar to "not on purpose", emphasizing lack of intent.

it was a slip-up

Indicates a minor, unintentional error.

it was a blunder

Suggests a more significant, unintentional mistake.

it was an oversight

Highlights that something was missed unintentionally.

it was a fortuitous event

Indicates that the event, while unplanned, had a positive outcome.

FAQs

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

Use "this was unintentional" to clarify that an action or outcome occurred without planning or purpose. For example: "I apologize if I offended you; this was unintentional."

What are some alternatives to saying "this was unintentional"?

You can use alternatives like "it was accidental", "it was inadvertent", or "it happened by mistake" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "that was unintentional" instead of "this was unintentional"?

Yes, both are grammatically correct. Use "this" when referring to something in the immediate context, and "that" when referring to something further removed or previously mentioned.

What is the difference between "unintentional" and "accidental"?

"Unintentional" emphasizes the lack of intent, while "accidental" emphasizes the role of chance or circumstance. They are often interchangeable, but "accidental" might imply a more random or unforeseen occurrence.