Words / B2

aks-i-DENT-uh-lee/ˌæksɪˈdentəli/

Accidentally means by chance, without intending to: accidentally deleted; accidentally injured. Accidental is the adjective; inadvertently and unintentionally are close twins. The sample was accidentally heated; log the anomaly. Mix-up: accidentally vs accidentally as an excuse with no log; accidently (misspelling). Do not write accidentally for a planned independent variable.

Meaning

By chance, without intending to.

Examples

• “The sample was accidentally heated; log the anomaly, the practical said.”
• “Files were accidentally deleted, the inquiry said, which is the ICT sense — still name the backup.”

Good to know

accidentally + past participle; accidentally injured / deleted. Adjective: accidental. Close: inadvertently / unintentionally. Trap: accidently. Methods, H&S, and news. Without intending to, not a planned step.

Near in meaning

inadvertently, unintentionally, by chance

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