Accidently or Accidentally? The Correct Spelling Explained

One-Line Definition

Accidentally is the correct and standard spelling for the adverb meaning “by chance, unintentionally, or by mistake.” Accidently is generally considered a misspelling and should be avoided in standard English.

Quick Answer

If you are wondering whether to write accidently or accidentally, choose accidentally.

• ✅ accidentally: correct and standard
• ❌ accidently: misspelling/nonstandard form

Example:

I accidentally deleted the file.

The word accidentally describes something that happens without being planned or intended. Cambridge defines it as “by chance or by mistake,” while Oxford gives the meaning “by chance; in a way that was not planned.”

Quick Comparison Table

Form	Correct?	Meaning	Example
accidentally	✅ Yes	By chance or unintentionally	She accidentally broke the glass.
accidently	❌ No in standard English	Intended to mean “accidentally”	She accidently broke the glass.

Accidently vs. Accidentally: What Is the Difference?

The main difference is spelling, not meaning.

Accidentally is the standard English adverb formed from accidental + -ly. It means that something happened unintentionally or by chance.

Accidently is commonly written when people leave out the second al sound or letter sequence from accidentally. It may appear in informal writing or online, but it is not the form you should use in standard English.

Correct:

I accidentally sent the message to the wrong person.

Incorrect:

I accidently sent the message to the wrong person.

So, when writing an email, essay, article, assignment, report, or professional message, use accidentally.

Why Is “Accidentally” Correct?

The word comes from the adjective accidental.

accident → accidental → accidentally

The spelling becomes easier to remember when you see the word family:

• accident: a chance or unintended event
• accidental: happening by chance or unintentionally
• accidentally: in an accidental or unplanned way

For example:

It was an accident.

The damage was accidental.

He accidentally damaged the car.

Notice that accidentally keeps the -al from accidental before adding -ly.

Grammar Relay

accidental → adjective
accidentally → adverb

An adjective describes a noun:

It was an accidental mistake.

An adverb describes how an action happens:

She accidentally made a mistake.

This is why accidentally is the correct choice when you need an adverb.

Grammar Rule: Adjective + -ly

A useful spelling pattern is to form many adverbs by adding -ly to an adjective.

For accidental:

accidental + ly = accidentally

The result is:

accidentally

Not:

accidently

The missing al is the key spelling error.

Easy Memory Trick

Think:

ACCIDENT → ACCIDENTAL → ACCIDENTALLY

If you can spell accidental, you can spell accidentally.

Accidental already contains al, so do not drop it when adding -ly.

Examples of “Accidentally”

Here are some natural examples:

1. I accidentally deleted the email.
2. She accidentally stepped on my foot.
3. He accidentally called the wrong number.
4. We accidentally took the wrong bus.
5. I accidentally spilled coffee on my shirt.
6. They accidentally revealed the surprise.
7. She accidentally locked the door.
8. He accidentally sent the message twice.
9. The child accidentally knocked over the vase.
10. I accidentally left my keys at home.

In every sentence, accidentally tells us that the action was not intentional.

“Accidentally” vs. “By Accident”

Accidentally and by accident can often express the same idea.

Expression	Example
accidentally	I accidentally deleted the photo.
by accident	I deleted the photo by accident.
by mistake	I deleted the photo by mistake.
inadvertently	I inadvertently deleted the photo.

Cambridge lists by accident, by mistake, and in error among related expressions for accidentally.

However, they are not always interchangeable in exactly the same sentence or style.

Accidentally is especially useful when you want a concise adverb:

She accidentally pressed the button.

Accidentally vs. Accidently in a Sentence

Compare these sentences:

❌ I accidently deleted the document.

✅ I accidentally deleted the document.

The intended meaning is clear in both, but the second sentence uses the standard spelling.

Another example:

❌ He accidently broke the window.

✅ He accidentally broke the window.

For formal and educational writing, always choose accidentally.

Common Mistake

A common reason people write accidently is that the pronunciation can make the middle of the word easy to overlook.

The correct spelling is:

a-c-c-i-d-e-n-t-a-l-l-y

A useful way to break it down is:

accident + al + ly

→ accidentally

Do not remove al.

Pronunciation

Accidentally is pronounced approximately:

AK-si-DENT-uh-lee

IPA:

/ˌæksɪˈdentəli/

Oxford lists this pronunciation for both British and American English.

The pronunciation can make the spelling seem simpler than it actually is, so remembering the word family accidental → accidentally is useful.

Vocabulary Corner

If you want alternatives to accidentally, you can use:

• by accident
• by mistake
• inadvertently
• unintentionally
• unknowingly
• unwittingly
• by chance

The best choice depends on the context.

For example:

1: – I accidentally deleted the file.

2: – I deleted the file by mistake.

3: – I inadvertently deleted the file.

All three can communicate an unintended action, but inadvertently is more formal.

What Major Dictionaries Say

Major learner’s dictionaries recognize accidentally as the standard adverb.

Cambridge Dictionary defines accidentally as “by chance or by mistake.”

Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines it as “by chance; in a way that was not planned.”

Oxford also gives accidentally as the adverb in the word family surrounding accidental.

Therefore, for standard English writing, accidentally is the safe and correct choice.

Mini Quiz

Choose accidently or accidentally in each sentence.

1. I _______ knocked over the glass.
2. She _______ sent the email to the wrong person.
3. He _______ deleted the entire folder.
4. We _______ arrived at the wrong station.
5. The child _______ broke the toy.

Answers

1. accidentally
2. accidentally
3. accidentally
4. accidentally
5. accidentally

Practice Guide

To remember the correct spelling, use this three-step chain:

ACCIDENT → ACCIDENTAL → ACCIDENTALLY

Then complete these sentences:

• I accidentally _______.
• She accidentally _______.
• They accidentally _______.
• He accidentally _______.

For example:

I accidentally deleted my notes.

The more you use the complete word in context, the easier its spelling becomes.

Final Verdict

Accidentally is the correct standard spelling.

❌ Accidently
✅ Accidentally

Use accidentally when you mean “by chance,” “unintentionally,” or “by mistake.”

Easy rule: Remember accidental + ly = accidentally.

Definitely or Definately: Which One Should You Use?