Accidently or Accidentally: Which Spelling Is Correct?

Introduction

Have you ever wondered whether to write accidently or accidentally? These spellings look almost identical, so it is easy to become confused when writing an email, completing a school assignment, or communicating online. Although both forms can be found in written English, one is the standard choice for modern writing.

Accidentally is the standard spelling used in contemporary English. It means doing something unintentionally or by mistake. Accidently is a less common spelling variant recorded by some dictionaries, but it is generally best to use accidentally in academic, professional, and everyday writing.

In this guide, you will learn the difference between the two spellings, understand the spelling rule, explore practical examples, and discover how to avoid common mistakes.

Accidently or Accidentally: Quick Answer

The preferred spelling is accidentally, with an a before the ending -lly. It is the standard form in both American and British English.

Spelling	Explanation	Recommendation
Accidentally	Standard modern spelling meaning unintentionally	Use it in your writing
Accidently	Less common spelling variant	Generally avoid it in formal writing

Examples:

• I accidentally deleted the wrong file.
• She accidentally left her notebook at school.
• We accidentally took the wrong road.

Remember this simple rule: when you want to describe something that happens by mistake, write accidentally.

What Is the Difference Between Accidently and Accidentally?

The main difference is spelling frequency and standard usage rather than meaning. Accidentally is the established spelling that readers generally expect, while accidently is a less common variant.

The Standard Modern Spelling

Accidentally is an adverb that describes an action that happens unintentionally, without a deliberate plan or intention.

For example:

• I accidentally sent the message to the wrong person.
• He accidentally broke the handle while cleaning.
• They accidentally arrived at the wrong building.

In each sentence, the word explains that the action was not intentional.

Use accidentally in essays, reports, emails, articles, and other situations where standard spelling matters.

Accidently: Is It a Misspelling or a Variant?

Accidently is commonly treated as a misspelling of accidentally. However, some dictionaries record it as a less common spelling variant.

This distinction matters because describing it as a word that has never existed would be inaccurate. Even so, its recognition as a variant does not make it the preferred choice for standard modern writing.

For clear and professional communication, choose accidentally unless you have a specific reason to reproduce another spelling.

Accidently vs. Accidentally: Comparison Table

Feature	Accidently	Accidentally
Standard modern usage	Uncommon	Preferred
Meaning	Unintentionally	Unintentionally
British English	Uncommon	Standard
American English	Uncommon	Standard
Formal writing	Generally avoid	Recommended

What Does Accidentally Mean?

Accidentally means doing something unintentionally, by mistake, or without planning for it to happen. It describes an action or event that was not intended.

Accidentally Meaning in Simple English

In simple English, accidentally means that something happened when you did not mean for it to happen.

For example:

• I accidentally spilled water on the table.
• She accidentally called the wrong number.
• He accidentally left his keys inside the car.

These examples describe actions that were not planned or intended.

Accidentally as “By Mistake”

The word often describes an error or an unintended action.

Examples:

• I accidentally submitted the wrong document.
• She accidentally erased an important note.
• The student accidentally wrote the wrong answer.

In these sentences, accidentally explains how the mistake happened.

Accidentally as “By Chance”

Sometimes, accidentally describes discovering or encountering something without planning to do so.

Examples:

• I accidentally found an old photograph while cleaning my desk.
• We accidentally met our former teacher at the library.
• She accidentally discovered a useful shortcut while exploring the software.

In these contexts, the word emphasizes that the discovery or encounter was unplanned.

Why Is Accidentally Spelled With Two Ls?

Understanding how the word is formed can make its spelling easier to remember.

Accident → Accidental → Accidentally

The word develops through three related forms:

• Accident: A noun referring to an unintended event or mishap.
• Accidental: An adjective describing something that happens unintentionally.
• Accidentally: An adverb describing an action that happens unintentionally.

Consider these examples:

• The accident happened near the school.
• The damage was accidental.
• He accidentally damaged the equipment.

The relationship between these words provides a useful spelling clue. Start with accidental, then add -ly to form accidentally.

How the Suffix -ly Forms the Adverb

The suffix -ly commonly turns an adjective into an adverb.

For example:

• Careful → Carefully
• Sudden → Suddenly
• Accidental → Accidentally
• Personal → Personally

Because accidental already ends in -al, adding -ly produces accidentally. The two consecutive Ls come from the final L in accidental and the L in -ly.

An Easy Trick to Remember the Correct Spelling

Remember the phrase “accidental plus ly equals accidentally.”

Break the word into its parts:

ACCIDENTAL + LY = ACCIDENTALLY

This simple method helps you remember why the standard spelling contains two Ls. When in doubt, write the adjective accidental first and then add -ly.

How to Pronounce Accidentally

The pronunciation of accidentally can help you recognize the word when speaking, although pronunciation alone may not reveal the correct spelling.

A common pronunciation in American and British English is approximately:

ak-suh-DEN-tuh-lee

The exact pronunciation may vary slightly by accent.

Accidentally Pronunciation in Simple Syllables

For a simple breakdown, divide the word into syllables:

ac-ci-den-tal-ly

The word has five written syllables in this common breakdown, with the main stress falling on den.

Try saying the word slowly first, then gradually increase your speed:

• Ac-ci-den-tal-ly
• Accidentally

Some speakers reduce the vowel sounds in everyday conversation. This can make the word sound shorter and may contribute to spelling mistakes.

Why Accidently and Accidentally Sound Similar

The spellings accidently and accidentally look and sound very similar. In ordinary speech, the unstressed vowel between consonants may be reduced, making the distinction difficult to hear.

For this reason, it is better to remember the spelling pattern than to rely entirely on pronunciation.

Is Accidentally the Same in British and American English?

Yes. Accidentally is the standard spelling in both British and American English.

Unlike words such as colour and color, this word does not have separate standard British and American spellings.

Accidentally in American English

American English uses accidentally in formal and informal writing.

Examples:

• I accidentally locked my account.
• She accidentally dropped her phone.
• The employee accidentally entered the wrong date.

Accidentally in British English

British English also uses accidentally as the standard spelling.

Examples:

• He accidentally left his coat on the bus.
• I accidentally sent the letter to the wrong address.
• She accidentally deleted the document.

Which Spelling Should English Learners Use?

English learners should use accidentally in both American and British English.

Whether you are writing a school assignment, preparing a business email, or publishing an online article, this spelling is the clearest and most widely accepted choice.

Accidently or Accidentally in Example Sentences

Examples make it easier to understand how accidentally works in different situations.

Everyday Examples

1. I accidentally spilled coffee on my notebook.
2. She accidentally left her umbrella at home.
3. He accidentally walked into the wrong classroom.
4. We accidentally ordered the same meal.
5. The child accidentally knocked over the cup.

Accidentally in Emails and Text Messages

1. I accidentally sent you the wrong attachment.
2. Sorry, I accidentally called you while my phone was in my pocket.
3. I accidentally deleted your previous message.
4. I accidentally included the wrong date in my email.

In casual messages, people may sometimes use nonstandard spelling. However, accidentally remains the better choice when you want your message to look polished.

Accidentally in School and Academic Writing

1. The student accidentally omitted a sentence from the final answer.
2. I accidentally used the wrong formula in my calculation.
3. The researcher accidentally entered an incorrect value into the spreadsheet.
4. She accidentally submitted an earlier version of her assignment.

Accidentally in Business and Professional Writing

1. The employee accidentally sent the report to the wrong department.
2. I accidentally entered the incorrect reference number.
3. The team accidentally uploaded an outdated document.
4. We accidentally scheduled two meetings for the same time.

These examples show how the word can describe unintended errors in professional situations.

Common Spelling Mistakes Related to Accidentally

Some spelling mistakes occur because writers forget a letter or confuse related words.

Accidently vs. Accidentally

Incorrect or nonstandard for most modern writing: I Accidently deleted the photograph.

Recommended: I accidentally deleted the photograph.

The standard form includes the additional L associated with the adjective accidental.

Accidentaly vs. Accidentally

Incorrect: She accidentaly locked the door.

Correct: She accidentally locked the door.

The incorrect version has only one L before the Y. Remember that the standard spelling has two consecutive Ls near the end.

Accidentally vs. Accidental

These words are related, but they have different grammatical functions.

Accidental is an adjective:

• The damage was accidental.
• It was an accidental discovery.

Accidentally is an adverb:

• I accidentally damaged the item.
• We accidentally discovered the shortcut.

Use accidental to describe a noun and accidentally to describe an action or event.

Accidentally vs. Incidentally

These words can look similar, but their meanings differ.

Accidentally means unintentionally or by mistake.

• I accidentally deleted the file.

Incidentally commonly introduces additional information or a related point. It can also mean happening as a minor or accompanying part of something.

• Incidentally, the meeting has been moved to Friday.

Do not substitute one word for the other simply because they look or sound similar.

Related To Another Article: https://grammixo.com/choosing-or-chosing/

Accidentally vs. Unintentionally vs. Inadvertently

These words are related, but each has slightly different uses.

When to Use Accidentally

Use accidentally for an action or event that was not intended.

Example: I accidentally knocked over the vase.

This is a natural choice for everyday situations and ordinary mistakes.

When to Use Unintentionally

Unintentionally means without intending or planning to do something. It often emphasizes the absence of intention.

Example: She unintentionally offended her friend.

This word works well when discussing actions, comments, or outcomes that were not meant to happen.

When to Use Inadvertently

Inadvertently means without noticing something or without being aware of the consequences. It is often used in formal or professional writing.

Example: The editor inadvertently omitted a paragraph from the report.

It is particularly useful when describing an oversight or an error caused by a lack of attention.

Is “By Accident” Interchangeable With “Accidentally”?

In many sentences, yes. Both expressions can describe something that happens unintentionally.

• I accidentally deleted the file.
• I deleted the file by accident.

Both sentences communicate the same basic idea.

However, the expressions may fit differently into a sentence. Choose the one that sounds most natural in your context.

Common Grammar Mistakes When Using Accidentally

Knowing the spelling is only part of using the word correctly. You also need to understand where it fits in a sentence.

Using Accidentally in the Wrong Part of a Sentence

Accidentally is an adverb, so it commonly modifies a verb or action.

Examples:

• She accidentally broke the glass.
• I accidentally selected the wrong option.
• They accidentally missed the announcement.

The word can appear in different positions depending on emphasis and sentence structure.

For example:

• I accidentally sent the email.
• I sent the email accidentally.

Both are grammatically possible, although the first may sound more natural in everyday conversation.

Confusing Accidental With Accidentally

Do not use the adjective accidental where an adverb is needed.

Incorrect: He accidental deleted the message.

Correct: He accidentally deleted the message.

The adverb accidentally describes how the message was deleted.

By contrast:

Correct: It was an accidental deletion.

Here, accidental describes the noun deletion.

Choosing the Right Word for the Intended Meaning

Use accidentally when an action happens unintentionally.

Use intentionally when an action is done deliberately.

Compare these examples:

• I accidentally sent the wrong file. (I did not mean to send it.)
• I intentionally sent the file. (I meant to send it.)

Choosing the correct adverb helps communicate your meaning clearly.

How to Correct Accidently in Your Writing

A few simple habits can help you avoid this spelling mistake.

Proofreading Tips for Students

When reviewing an essay or assignment, look for the word accidently and check whether accidentally is intended.

Read the entire sentence to make sure the word expresses an unintended action. Then check the spelling before submitting your work.

Using Spell-Check and Grammar Tools

Spell-checking tools can help identify many spelling errors, including accidently. However, different tools may treat uncommon variants differently, so a suggested correction should be considered alongside standard usage.

For important documents, proofread the text manually even after using an automated checker.

Examples of Incorrect and Correct Sentences

Incorrect or nonstandard	Recommended version
I accidently lost my notes.	I accidentally lost my notes.
She accidentaly opened the file.	She accidentally opened the file.
He made an accidentally mistake.	He made an accidental mistake.
They accidental deleted the record.	They accidentally deleted the record.

Pay attention to the grammatical role of the word as well as its spelling.

Accidently or Accidentally: Practice Quiz

Test your understanding by choosing the correct answer for each question.

Choose the Correct Spelling

1. I ______ left my notebook on the bus.

• A. Accidently
• B. Accidentally

2. She ______ sent the email to the wrong person.

• A. Accidentaly
• B. Accidentally

3. Which spelling is recommended in standard modern English?

• A. Accidently
• B. Accidentally

4. He ______ selected the wrong answer.

• A. Accidentally
• B. Accidental

5. The damage was ______.

• A. Accidentally
• B. Accidental

Practice Quiz Answers and Explanations

1. B. Accidentally — It describes an unintended action.
2. B. Accidentally — This is the standard spelling.
3. B. Accidentally — It is preferred in modern standard writing.
4. A. Accidentally — The adverb describes how he selected the answer.
5. B. Accidental — The adjective describes the noun damage.

If you answered all five correctly, you understand the key spelling and grammar differences.

People Also Ask

Final Verdict: Accidently or Accidentally?

When choosing between accidently and accidentally, accidentally is the preferred spelling for modern standard English. It is used in both British and American English to describe something that happens unintentionally or by mistake.

Although some dictionaries record Accidently as a less common spelling variant, it is generally best to avoid it in formal writing, school assignments, professional emails, and published articles.

To remember the correct form, think of accidental followed by -ly. This simple spelling pattern will help you write accidentally with confidence.

For clear, accurate, and professional English, choose accidentally.