unaccountably

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unaccountably" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is inexplicable or cannot be accounted for, often in a context where an action or event seems strange or without reason. Example: "She unaccountably decided to leave the party early, despite having a great time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The fourth delivery is sliced straight to Maxwell at gully, arriving at knee height, and is unaccountably dropped!

The Guardian - Sport

MH370 was last heard from when the co-pilot sent a short radio message shortly before the plane unaccountably turned off its route.

The Economist

Most have been slow to grasp the changes affecting their industry—"remarkably, unaccountably complacent," as Rupert Murdoch put it in a speech last year but now they are making a big push to catch up.

The Economist

As for corporate debt, even though the overall quality of the ratings may not be too bad, there have been plenty of examples of sudden, unexpected rating changes; and other cases (including Enron) when the agencies were unaccountably slow to downgrade.

The Economist

The response continues to be hampered by poor co-ordination and the weakness of states; morticians can be bribed to release infected bodies to relatives who want a traditional burial; clinics are short of donated gloves, which end up on the black market; donors complain of vehicles unaccountably disappearing.

The Economist

Unaccountably, European leaders failed to take our advice.

The Economist

This week, after an unaccountably long lag, professional acclaim for this bold, purposeful theorist finally converged on its natural rate.

The Economist

Take the 95% loan-to-value mortgage of which the British government is unaccountably fond.

The Economist

Unaccountably, he made no reference to the sufferings of Sri Lankan Tamils even though nearly 300,000 of them have been displaced from their homes and are now miserably interned in camps.

The Economist

The prime minister had unaccountably brought few with him.

The Economist

ANY Eastern Approaches readers who, unaccountably, have not been keeping up with the latest developments from the Estonian Animal Recording Centre may be interested to hear that a new 48-page survey of the most popular names for cows in Estonia is the talk of Tallinn.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unaccountably" to add a layer of intrigue or surprise when describing events that lack a clear explanation. This can be particularly effective in narrative writing or journalistic contexts where you want to highlight the unexpected nature of a situation.

Common error

Avoid using "unaccountably" to describe actions that are simply negligent or irresponsible. "Unaccountably" implies a lack of understandable reason, not a failure to take responsibility.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "unaccountably" primarily functions to modify verbs or clauses, indicating that an action or event occurs without an apparent or logical explanation. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use in highlighting unexpected or puzzling circumstances.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unaccountably" is a versatile adverb used to describe events or actions that lack a clear or logical explanation. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it appears frequently in news, encyclopedic, and formal writing. While grammatically sound and widely accepted, it's essential to differentiate its meaning from words like "irresponsibly". For similar expressions, consider "inexplicably" or "mysteriously" to convey a similar sense of puzzlement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inexplicably

Replaces "unaccountably" with a direct synonym, focusing on the lack of explanation.

without explanation

Directly states the absence of a reason or justification.

mysteriously

Implies a sense of mystery or intrigue surrounding the unexplained event, similar to "unaccountably".

for no apparent reason

Highlights the lack of any obvious cause or motive.

for some reason

Offers a more casual way of expressing that the reason for something is unknown.

in an unexplainable manner

A more formal way to express that something happened without a clear reason.

oddly enough

Highlights the strangeness or peculiarity of the event, comparable to "unaccountably".

surprisingly

Focuses on the unexpected nature of the event, which can imply a lack of clear explanation.

unusually

Indicates a deviation from the norm, suggesting that the reason is not immediately apparent.

peculiarly

Emphasizes the distinctiveness or oddness of the situation, akin to "unaccountably".

FAQs

How can I use "unaccountably" in a sentence?

You can use "unaccountably" to describe actions or events that are difficult to explain. For example, "He "unaccountably failed" to submit the report, despite having plenty of time."

What are some alternatives to "unaccountably"?

Some alternatives to "unaccountably" include "inexplicably", "mysteriously", or "for some reason".

Is it correct to say "unaccountably so"?

Yes, "unaccountably so" is grammatically correct, although it is less common. It emphasizes that something is true or has happened for an unexplained reason. For example, "The weather was pleasant, unaccountably so for late November."

What's the difference between "unaccountably" and "unacceptably"?

"Unaccountably" means without explanation or reason, while "unacceptably" means not acceptable or satisfactory. They have completely different meanings and cannot be used interchangeably.