The correct spelling is accidentally, while accidently is an incorrect spelling in standard English.
Many people search for accidently or accidentally because it is one of the most commonly misspelled English words.
The extra “al” in the middle is easy to overlook, especially when typing quickly or relying on pronunciation.
Since accidentally appears frequently in emails, text messages, academic writing, business communication, and everyday conversations, using the correct spelling is important.
In this guide, you’ll learn the correct spelling, meaning, pronunciation, word origin, grammar rules, common mistakes, and practical examples so you can use accidentally with confidence.
Quick Answer
The correct spelling is accidentally.
Accidently is a common misspelling and is not accepted in standard English dictionaries.
Correct Examples
- I accidentally deleted the file.
- She accidentally called the wrong number.
- We accidentally left the lights on.
- He accidentally sent the email to everyone.
Incorrect Examples
- ❌ I accidently deleted the file.
- ❌ She accidently dropped her phone.
- ❌ We accidently missed the meeting.
Whether you’re writing an email, report, essay, blog post, or social media update, always use accidentally.
What Does Accidentally Mean?
Accidentally is an adverb that means by accident, unintentionally, or without planning to do something. It describes an action that happens without intent or purpose.
Examples:
- I accidentally locked myself out of the house.
- She accidentally broke her glasses.
- They accidentally discovered an old photograph.
The word is commonly used in both spoken English and written English, making it an important part of everyday vocabulary.
How to Spell and Pronounce Accidentally
The correct spelling is:
Accidentally
Pronunciation:
- American English: ak-si-DEN-tuh-lee
- British English: ak-si-DEN-tuh-lee
Phonetic pronunciation:
/ˌæk.sɪˈden.təl.i/
A simple way to remember the spelling is to build it from its word family:
- Accident
- Accidental
- Accidentally
Notice that accidental already contains “al” before adding the -ly ending.
Many people accidentally remove one of these letters and write accidently, which creates the spelling mistake.
The Origin of Accidently or Accidentally
The word accidentally comes from the adjective accidental, which is derived from the noun accident.
The noun accident entered English from Latin through Old French. It originally referred to an event that happened by chance rather than by intention.
As English developed, the adjective accidental described something that happened unintentionally. Adding the suffix -ly formed the adverb accidentally, meaning in an accidental manner or by accident.
The misspelling accidently usually happens because writers skip the second “al” when typing quickly or spelling the word based on its pronunciation. Since the middle syllables are spoken rapidly, it is easy to leave out one part of the word.
Trusted dictionaries such as Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, and Collins Dictionary recognize accidentally as the only correct spelling.
Why Is “Accidentally” So Easy to Misspell?
Few English words cause as much spelling confusion as accidentally. There are several reasons why people often write accidently instead.
The Word Is Long
Longer words naturally contain more opportunities for typing mistakes. With thirteen letters, accidentally is easy to shorten by mistake.
Pronunciation Hides the Letters
When native speakers say accidentally quickly, the second “al” is not always clearly heard. Many writers spell the word exactly as they hear it.
People Skip the Word Family
Instead of thinking about accident → accidental → accidentally, many people try to spell the word from memory. This often leads to dropping the “al” before -ly.
Fast Typing Causes Errors
The misspelling accidently frequently appears in emails, text messages, search engines, and social media because people type quickly without proofreading.
British English vs American English Spelling
Unlike words such as color/colour or center/centre, there is no spelling difference between British English and American English.
Both varieties use accidentally.
The spelling never changes.
| Feature | British English | American English |
|---|---|---|
| Correct spelling | Accidentally | Accidentally |
| Incorrect spelling | Accidently | Accidently |
| Standard English | ✅ Accidentally | ✅ Accidentally |
| Dictionary spelling | Accidentally | Accidentally |
| Pronunciation | Similar | Similar |
Whether you’re writing in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, or another English-speaking country, accidentally is always the correct spelling.
Which Spelling Should You Use?
Always use accidentally.
It is the standard spelling used in professional writing, academic papers, business communication, journalism, legal documents, websites, books, and everyday English.
For American English
Use accidentally in emails, reports, articles, resumes, and professional documents.
Examples:
- I accidentally attached the wrong document.
- She accidentally deleted the spreadsheet before saving it.
For British English
British English also uses accidentally.
The spelling is exactly the same as American English.
Examples:
- We accidentally missed the last train.
- He accidentally left his wallet at home.
For Canada, Australia, and Other English-Speaking Countries
The accepted spelling remains accidentally in schools, workplaces, government publications, newspapers, and online writing.
For International English
If your audience is global, always write accidentally. It is recognized worldwide and accepted by dictionaries, style guides, publishers, educational institutions, and professional editors.
A Simple Memory Trick
A quick way to remember the correct spelling is to think of the word family:
Accident → Accidental → Accidentally
If accidental has “al”, then accidentally keeps that “al” before adding -ly.
Another easy reminder is:
You don’t spell it by accident—you spell it from “accidental.”
This simple trick can help you avoid one of the most common spelling mistakes in English.
Common Mistakes with Accidently or Accidentally
The misspelling accidently usually happens because writers omit the “al” before the -ly ending. Since the word is often pronounced quickly, the missing letters are not always noticeable. However, in standard English, only accidentally is correct.
Here are the most common mistakes.
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Accidently | Accidentally | Missing “al” before -ly |
| Accidentaly | Accidentally | Missing one l |
| Accidentially | Accidentally | Incorrect letter order |
| Accidentelley | Accidentally | Typing error |
| Accidentallyy | Accidentally | Extra letter added |
Mistake 1: Writing “Accidently”
This is the most common spelling error.
❌ I accidently sent the wrong file.
✅ I accidentally sent the wrong file.
Mistake 2: Forgetting the Word Family
Many people spell the word from memory instead of thinking about its word family.
Correct sequence:
- Accident
- Accidental
- Accidentally
Remembering this pattern makes the spelling much easier.
Mistake 3: Confusing Pronunciation with Spelling
Some writers remove letters because they do not hear every syllable clearly.
Pronunciation should never be the only guide for spelling English words.
Mistake 4: Skipping Proofreading
Words like accidentally, definitely, separate, and occurrence are among the most common spelling mistakes in English. A quick proofreading check can prevent these errors.
Accidently or Accidentally in Everyday Examples
In Emails
- I accidentally attached the wrong document.
- We accidentally sent your invoice twice.
- She accidentally replied to the entire team.
In Business Writing
- The customer accidentally entered an incorrect account number.
- The file was accidentally deleted during the software update.
- An employee accidentally shared confidential information.
In Academic Writing
- The researcher accidentally omitted one reference.
- The student accidentally submitted an unfinished assignment.
On Social Media
- I accidentally liked a photo from five years ago.
- He accidentally posted the draft instead of the final version.
In Everyday Conversation
- I accidentally broke your mug.
- She accidentally took my jacket.
- We accidentally parked in the wrong place.
- They accidentally found an old family photo.
Accidently or Accidentally – Google Trends & Usage Data
Searches for accidently or accidentally remain consistently high because it is one of the most frequently misspelled English words. Students, professionals, content writers, and English learners often search for the correct spelling before sending emails, publishing articles, or submitting assignments.
The spelling accidentally appears in books, newspapers, academic journals, government publications, business documents, and professional websites across the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and other English-speaking countries.
The misspelling accidently is commonly found in search queries, typing mistakes, text messages, and informal online writing. However, it is not accepted in standard English dictionaries or professional writing.
People also search for related topics such as:
- accidentally meaning
- accidentally pronunciation
- how to spell accidentally
- accident vs accidental
- accidentally definition
- by accident meaning
- unintentionally meaning
- adverb examples
- common spelling mistakes
- English spelling rules
- proofreading tips
- confusing English words
Accidentally vs Accidently Comparison Table
| Feature | Accidentally | Accidently |
|---|---|---|
| Correct spelling | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Dictionary word | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Standard English | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Part of speech | Adverb | Not accepted |
| Used in professional writing | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Meaning | By accident; unintentionally | No accepted meaning |
| Accepted worldwide | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
Word Family
Learning related words can help you remember the correct spelling.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Accident | Noun | An unexpected event |
| Accidental | Adjective | Happening by chance or without intention |
| Accidentally | Adverb | In an accidental or unintended way |
Knowing this word family makes it much easier to remember why accidentally contains “al” before -ly.
Synonyms of Accidentally
If you want to avoid repetition in your writing, these words have similar meanings depending on the context.
- Unintentionally
- Inadvertently
- By accident
- Unknowingly
- Mistakenly
- Unexpectedly
- By chance
- Carelessly (in some contexts)
- Coincidentally (not always interchangeable)
Antonyms of Accidentally
These words express the opposite meaning.
- Intentionally
- Deliberately
- Purposely
- Knowingly
- Consciously
- Willingly
- On purpose
- Intentionally planned
FAQs
Is it accidently or accidentally?
The correct spelling is accidentally. Accidently is a common misspelling and should not be used in standard English.
Is accidently a real word?
No. Accidently is not recognized as the standard spelling in major dictionaries such as Merriam-Webster, Oxford, Cambridge, or Collins. The accepted spelling is accidentally.
Why do people spell accidentally as accidently?
Most people drop the second “al” because the word is long and its pronunciation makes those letters easy to miss. Fast typing and lack of proofreading also contribute to the mistake.
What does accidentally mean?
Accidentally means by accident, unintentionally, or without planning to do something.
Is accidentally an adverb?
Yes. Accidentally is an adverb because it describes how an action happens.
How do you remember the spelling of accidentally?
Think of the word family:
Accident → Accidental → Accidentally
If you can spell accidental, simply add -ly to form accidentally.
Can I use accidently in formal writing?
No. Always use accidentally in business emails, academic papers, legal documents, reports, and professional communication.
Conclusion
The correct spelling is accidentally, while accidently is always incorrect in standard English. The easiest way to remember the spelling is to start with accidental and then add -ly, rather than trying to spell the word from memory.
This simple approach helps you avoid one of the most common English spelling mistakes. Before sending an email, submitting an assignment, or publishing content, take a moment to proofread for words like accidentally.
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