unwittingly

USAGE SUMMARY

'unwittingly' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is an adverb meaning to unknowingly or unintentionally do something. For example, "The thief unwittingly left a fingerprint on the window."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Unlikely to be as pleasant on the eye, but no less explosive, that particular showdown is scheduled for Saturday, with the fixture generator having unwittingly maximised excitement among Iceland's football followers by pitting the Premier League's two potential title winners against each other on the final day of the season.

The Guardian - Sport

Thousands of law-abiding motorists are having their cars towed away and are being charged fines of as much as £800 after unwittingly falling foul of car tax rule changes introduced by the DVLA.

The Guardian - Money

The company has also come under fire from those who have unwittingly signed up for Prime, or forgotten to cancel their free trial after 30 days, only to be hit with a £79 charge.

The Guardian - Money

When researchers at Cardiff University released a report about the brain chemical called GABA – which they had found to be associated with impulsivity in a group of adult men – they unwittingly prompted a media circus.

The Guardian

These were then unwittingly used by other nurses on the ward, leading to a series of insulin overdoses.

The Guardian

Upon its release, Pulp Fiction was so instantly influential that it unwittingly became the accessory to dozens of cinematic crimes.

The Guardian - Film

A Staten Island plumber has won a lottery jackpot of more than $136m after unwittingly leaving the winning ticket abandoned in his basement for six weeks.

The Guardian

Watch the clip on YouTube Locksmith and inventor Gwildor unwittingly sets off a chain of events in Masters of the Universe which results in He-Man, Skeletor and co arriving on Earth.

The Guardian - Film

As Süddeutsche Zeitung noted, with less than 50% irony, Bayern have somehow neglected to systematically destroy these two sides – they've unwittingly even strengthened Wolves by selling them Luiz Gustavo in August 2013 summer.

The Guardian - Sport

During the Thatcher years, Scottish Labour deployed nationalist weaponry against Conservative governments and, in doing so, unwittingly helped delegitimise aspects of the British state.

The Guardian

A European who's unhappy he can't get a mortgage, will, however unwittingly, likely see his life in brighter lights after watching footage of people with no electricity, no running water and little food to eat.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unwittingly" to emphasize a lack of awareness or intention, adding nuance to descriptions of actions and their consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "unwittingly" when the subject is clearly aware and intentionally causing the action. It's about true unawareness, not just lack of explicit malicious intent.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "unwittingly" functions primarily to modify verbs, indicating that an action was performed without conscious awareness or intention. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adverb "unwittingly" signifies doing something without awareness or intention. Ludwig AI affirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage. It's most common in news and formal contexts, serving to emphasize the lack of deliberate action. Alternatives like "unknowingly" and "inadvertently" can be used depending on the specific shade of meaning. When using "unwittingly", ensure that the subject genuinely lacks awareness, avoiding its misuse in cases where intent is present. By considering these nuances, you can effectively incorporate "unwittingly" into your writing to convey subtle yet important distinctions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unknowingly

Implies a lack of knowledge about the action or its consequences, similar to "unwittingly".

inadvertently

Suggests a lack of intention or attention, often implying a mistake or error.

unintentionally

Directly states the absence of intention, focusing on the lack of deliberate action.

accidentally

Emphasizes the role of chance or coincidence in the action.

without realizing

Highlights the lack of awareness during the action, focusing on the realization aspect.

without knowing

Focuses on the absence of knowledge or information when the action was performed.

obliviously

Implies a lack of awareness due to being preoccupied or inattentive.

without meaning to

Clearly states the absence of intention, often used to express regret or apology.

by mistake

Suggests that the action was an error or unintended deviation from the correct course.

unconsciously

Suggests that the action was performed without conscious thought or awareness.

FAQs

How can I use "unwittingly" in a sentence?

You can use "unwittingly" to describe an action done without awareness or intention, such as, "She "unwittingly revealed" the surprise party details".

What can I say instead of "unwittingly"?

Alternatives include "unknowingly", "inadvertently", or "unintentionally", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "unwittingly" or "unwillingly"?

"Unwittingly" means without awareness or intention, while "unwillingly" implies doing something against one's will. The correct choice depends on the context of the action.

What's the difference between "unwittingly" and "accidentally"?

"Unwittingly" emphasizes a lack of awareness or knowledge, while "accidentally" highlights the role of chance or unintentionality in causing an event. While they can overlap, "unwittingly" focuses on the actor's mental state.