Which one is correct? “On accident” or “By accident”?
It is a very contentious question that even native speakers of English cannot agree upon.
I will give you my two cents in this article and hopefully clear up some confusion.
To learn more, read on.
By accident
Kicking off with the usual, standard expression.
We use “by accident” to mean that something has happened unintentionally, accidentally, or by chance.
As a learner of English, you should know that “by accident” is the original expression that has existed for hundreds of years.
If you want to make sure that you are always correct, you should use “by accident”.
It is the usual expression in UK English. It is also used in US English, but not always.
On accident
This is where everyone disagrees.
“On accident” has the same meaning—something has happened unintentionally, accidentally, or by chance.
However, this is not the usual expression. It only came into everyday use a few decades ago, which is far less than “by accident”.
Many people will tell you than “on accident” is an error, but I disagree completely.
The fact of the matter is that millions of people, particularly in the United States, say it every day. This alone proves that the phrase is correct and can be used—at least in my opinion.
As a UK English speaker, I do not often use this phrase. It is “by accident” for me.
That said, “on accident” is becoming increasingly more common in the UK. It is not a likely expression, but certainly possible.
In US English, “on accident” is used quite a lot, although some American speakers prefer “by accident”.
Summary
- “By accident” means that something happened accidentally or unintentionally and is the standard, correct expression,
- “On accident” has the same meaning but is less common.
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