If you have ever typed this word and second-guessed yourself, you are not alone. “Accidentally” is one of the most misspelled words in the English language, and the confusion between accidently or accidentally shows up in emails, academic papers, social media posts, and even published articles. One spelling is correct. The other is a mistake — but understanding why helps you remember it forever.
This guide breaks down the difference, covers the word’s history, compares British and American English usage, and gives you real-world examples so you can write with full confidence.
Accidently or Accidentally — Quick Answer
Accidentally is the correct spelling. Accidently is a misspelling and should be avoided in all forms of writing — formal, academic, and casual alike.
The word “accidentally” is an adverb, meaning it modifies a verb to describe an action that happened without intention, by chance, or unintentionally. Both Merriam-Webster and Oxford English Dictionary list “accidentally” as the only standard form.
Examples:
- ✅ She accidentally deleted the entire project folder.
- ✅ He accidentally called his teacher “Mom” in front of the class.
- ❌ I accidently spilled coffee on my laptop. (incorrect)
- ❌ They accidently booked the wrong hotel. (incorrect)
Quick rule: If your spell-checker underlines the word in red, you have almost certainly typed “accidently.” Switch to “accidentally” and move on.
The Origin of Accidently or Accidentally
To understand why “accidentally” is spelled the way it is, it helps to trace the word back to its roots.
The story starts in Latin. The verb cadere meant “to fall,” and the compound form accidere meant “to happen” or “to fall upon.” From accidere came the Latin noun accidentalis, meaning “happening by chance.” This eventually passed through Medieval French and entered Middle English in the 14th century as “accident.”
From “accident” (noun), English developed the adjective “accidental.” Then, following standard word-formation rules, the adverb was built by adding the suffix “-ly” to the adjective — not to the noun.
That single rule explains everything:
- Noun: accident
- Adjective: accidental
- Adverb: accidental + -ly = accidentally
The Oxford English Dictionary records the earliest use of “accidentally” as predating 1398, found in a translation by John Trevisa. Interestingly, “accidently” also appeared in historical texts — as early as the 1400s — but it has since fallen out of standard usage and is now classified as a misspelling in modern dictionaries.
The confusion today largely comes from pronunciation. The word technically has five syllables: ak-si-den-tuh-lee. But in everyday speech, many people compress it to four syllables: ak-si-dent-lee. That compressed pronunciation drops the “al” sound — and when people write what they say, they end up spelling it “accidently.”
British English vs American English Spelling
One common question is whether the spelling changes between British and American English. The short answer: no, it does not.
Unlike words such as “colour/color” or “realise/realize,” where British and American spellings genuinely differ, “accidentally” follows the same spelling on both sides of the Atlantic. Major dictionaries from both regions — Oxford, Cambridge, Merriam-Webster, and Collins — all list “accidentally” as the sole correct and standard form.
“Accidently” is not a recognized variant in either dialect. It is treated as an error by grammar checkers, editors, and style guides, including Garner’s Modern American Usage and the Chicago Manual of Style.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Accidentally | Accidently |
| Correct Spelling | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| British English | ✅ Standard | ❌ Not accepted |
| American English | ✅ Standard | ❌ Not accepted |
| In Merriam-Webster | ✅ Listed | ❌ Not listed |
| In Oxford Dictionary | ✅ Listed | ❌ Not listed |
| Spell-checker result | ✅ Passes | ❌ Flagged as error |
| Used in formal writing | ✅ Always | ❌ Never |
Which Spelling Should You Use?
Always use accidentally. There are no exceptions.
Whether you are writing a university essay, a professional email, a news article, or a casual text message, “accidentally” is the only form that educated readers and editors will accept. Grammar tools — from Microsoft Word to Grammarly to Google Docs — automatically flag “accidently” as incorrect.
Here is a simple memory trick that works every time:
Think of the word “accidental” first. It ends in “-al.” Then add “-ly” to make it an adverb: accidental + ly = accidentally.
Another popular trick is to spot the word “dental” hidden inside: a-c-c-i-dental-ly. If you can see “dental,” you know you have the right spelling.
Common Mistakes with Accidently or Accidentally
Even careful writers make errors around this word. Here are the most frequent ones:
1. Writing “accidently” instead of “accidentally” This is the main error, driven by pronunciation. Always double-check when you type this word.
2. Writing “on accident” instead of “by accident” The correct phrase is “by accident,” not “on accident.” The confusion likely comes from speakers trying to mirror the phrase “on purpose” — but standard grammar requires “by accident.”
- ✅ She broke the vase by accident.
- ❌ She broke the vase on accident. (non-standard)
3. Confusing “accidentally” with “incidentally” These two adverbs are unrelated in meaning. “Accidentally” means unintentionally. “Incidentally” means by the way, or as a side note. They are often mixed up in informal writing.
4. Treating “accidental” as an adverb “Accidental” is an adjective — it describes a noun. “Accidentally” is the adverb — it describes a verb. Do not substitute one for the other.
- ✅ It was an accidental discovery. (adjective modifying noun)
- ✅ She accidentally discovered it. (adverb modifying verb)
Accidently or Accidentally in Everyday Examples
Seeing “accidentally” used correctly across different writing styles will help lock in the right form.
Email Example:
“Hi Sarah, I accidentally sent you the wrong attachment in my last email. Please find the correct file attached here. Sorry for any confusion!”
News Example:
“A local resident accidentally triggered the fire alarm at the community center on Thursday evening, prompting a brief evacuation before the all-clear was given.”
Social Media Example:
“I accidentally liked a photo from 2019 while going through someone’s profile. Time to move to a different country. 😬”
Formal Writing Example:
“The researcher accidentally introduced a variable that had not been accounted for in the original study design, which may have affected the reliability of the findings.”
In every case, swapping in “accidently” would be a spelling error that undermines the credibility of the writing.
Accidently or Accidentally — Google Trends & Usage Data
Data from Google Ngram Viewer — which tracks word frequency in published books — confirms just how dominant “accidentally” is. According to research by multiple grammar authorities, “accidentally” appears approximately 56 times more often than “accidently” in published written English.
Key data points:
- “Accidentally” has been in consistent use since the 14th century.
- Usage of “accidently” has remained extremely rare throughout recorded history.
- Google’s spell-check system automatically corrects “accidently” to “accidentally.”
- Grammarly, ProWritingAid, and other AI-powered writing tools all flag “accidently” as an error.
- “Accidentally” regularly appears on lists of the top 100 most commonly misspelled words in English — but only because people misspell it as “accidently.”
The data is clear: the wider your audience, the more important it is to get this right. In professional and academic writing, a single spelling error can undermine trust.
Comparison Table: Accidently vs Accidentally
| Category | Accidently | Accidentally |
| Part of Speech | N/A (misspelling) | Adverb |
| Meaning | — | Unintentionally; by mistake |
| Syllables | 4 (informal pronunciation) | 5 (ak-si-den-tuh-lee) |
| Formed from | — | Adjective “accidental” + “-ly” |
| Dictionary Status | Not a recognized word | Standard English word |
| Formal Writing | Never appropriate | Always appropriate |
| Spell-check | Flagged as error | Passes all checks |
| Frequency (Ngram) | Very rare | ~56x more common |
| Memory tip | — | Think: accidental + ly |
Conclusion
The debate between accidently or accidentally has a clear winner: accidentally is always correct, and “accidently” is always a mistake. The confusion is understandable — it comes from the way people naturally speak — but the spelling rule is straightforward: build the adverb from the adjective “accidental,” not from the noun “accident.”
Whenever you write this word, remember the chain: accident → accidental → accidentally. Or just look for “dental” in the middle. Either way, you will never spell it wrong again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is “accidently” ever correct? No. “Accidently” is considered a misspelling in all modern dictionaries and style guides — both in British and American English.
Q: Why do so many people spell it “accidently”? Because the word is often pronounced with four syllables in fast speech, dropping the “al” sound — which leads writers to omit those letters when spelling it.
Q: What is the correct adverb form of “accidental”? The correct adverb is “accidentally,” formed by adding “-ly” to the adjective “accidental.”
Q: Is “on accident” correct grammar? No. The standard phrase is “by accident,” not “on accident.” Use “by accident” or “accidentally” in formal writing.
Q: How can I remember the correct spelling? Think of the word “accidental” first, then add “-ly.” Or remember the word “dental” is hidden inside: a-c-c-i-dental-ly.
