Quick answer: Accidentally is the correct spelling. Accidently is a common misspelling with no accepted meaning in standard English. Example: She accidentally deleted the entire file.
A coworker once sent a company-wide email apologizing because she had “accidently” forwarded a private message to the whole team. Someone replied, half-joking, “Looks like you accidentally dropped a syllable too.” She reread her message and groaned. The missing letters had slipped right past her without notice.
That kind of slip happens constantly, and it’s easy to understand why. The word accidentally is long, a little awkward to pronounce quickly, and easy to shorten by accident, ironically enough. Many careful writers still trip over this one.
If accidently or accidentally has ever made you pause before hitting send, this guide will clear it up for good. We’ll walk through the correct spelling, the reasoning behind it, and plenty of real examples, so you never have to second-guess it again.
Accidently or Accidentally: Quick Answer
Accidentally is the correct spelling.
Accidently is incorrect in standard English.
Always use accidentally, no matter the context.
Examples
- He accidentally left his phone at the restaurant.
- She accidentally sent the email too early.
Incorrect Example
- He accidently left his phone at the restaurant.
What Does “Accidentally” Mean?
Accidentally describes something that happens by chance, without intention or planning. It’s the adverb form of the adjective accidental, used to describe how an action occurred, unexpectedly or unintentionally.
Examples
- She accidentally broke the vase while cleaning.
- He accidentally called the wrong number.
- The mistake happened accidentally, not on purpose.
Whenever you’re describing an unintended action, accidentally is the correct word to reach for.
Is “Accidently” a Real Word?
No. Accidently is simply a misspelling. It has no separate meaning and doesn’t appear as an accepted entry in standard dictionaries. Unlike some tricky word pairs, this isn’t about two different meanings competing. It’s about a missing syllable that changes the word’s correct form entirely.
Incorrect Examples
- ❌ I accidently spilled coffee on my laptop.
- ❌ She accidently locked herself out of the house.
Corrected Versions
- ✅ I accidentally spilled coffee on my laptop.
- ✅ She accidentally locked herself out of the house.
Why Is “Accidentally” Spelled This Way?
English builds many adverbs by adding -ly to an adjective. The adjective here is accidental, and adding -ly simply attaches directly to the end, without dropping any letters.
The Pattern
- accidental + ly → accidentally
Notice that accidental already ends in -al. Adding -ly creates a double l in the middle of the word, which is exactly the part many writers accidentally skip.
The Incorrect Pattern
- accident + ly → accidently ❌
This version mistakenly drops the -al ending entirely, building from the noun accident instead of the adjective accidental.
Accidently vs Accidentally: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Word | Correct or Incorrect | Meaning |
| Accidentally | Correct | By chance, without intention |
| Accidently | Incorrect | No accepted meaning |
Key Takeaway
There’s no situation where accidently is the right choice. Always write accidentally.
The Grammar Rule, Explained Simply
Understanding how English builds adverbs from adjectives makes this spelling much easier to remember.
Rule for Turning Adjectives Into Adverbs
Most adjectives simply add -ly to form an adverb.
- quick → quickly
- careful → carefully
- accidental → accidentally
Step-by-Step: Building Accidentally Correctly
Step 1: Start with the adjective, accidental.
Step 2: Notice it already ends in the letter l.
Step 3: Add -ly directly onto the end.
Step 4: This creates a double l, forming accidentally.
Step 5: Double-check by reading the word aloud slowly, syllable by syllable.
Other Adjectives Ending in “-al”
| Adjective | Adverb Form |
| Accidental | Accidentally |
| Personal | Personally |
| Occasional | Occasionally |
| Formal | Formally |
Every one of these keeps the double l when forming the adverb.
Where Does the Word “Accidental” Come From?
Accidental traces back to Latin, from a word meaning “to happen” or “to fall upon.” That root connects closely to the idea of something occurring unexpectedly, almost as if it fell into place without planning.
Over time, English added the adjective ending -al to describe something related to chance, and later, the adverb ending -ly to describe how an action happened. That layered history explains exactly why the correct spelling includes both endings stacked together.
Why Do People Misspell “Accidentally”?
This mistake happens for a few clear reasons, and it’s more common than most people realize.
The Word Is Long and Easy to Rush
Accidentally has five syllables, and fast typing often skips small details.
Dropping the extra al can happen without anyone noticing.
People Build It From “Accident” Instead of “Accidental”
Many writers mentally start from the noun accident, then add -ly directly.
That shortcut skips the adjective form entirely, creating the incorrect spelling.
Pronunciation Doesn’t Always Reveal the Missing Letters
Spoken quickly, both versions can sound fairly similar.
That similarity makes the written mistake easy to miss.
How “Accidentally” Shows Up in Real Life
This word appears constantly across everyday writing, conversation, and professional communication.
At Work
- He accidentally sent the report to the wrong client.
- The error occurred accidentally during a system update.
At School
- She accidentally submitted an unfinished assignment.
- The student accidentally mixed up two similar formulas.
At Home
- The dog accidentally knocked over the plant.
- She accidentally left the oven on overnight.
“Accidentally” in Everyday Writing
Emails
- I accidentally attached the wrong document; please find the correct one here.
News Headlines
- Officials say the outage was caused accidentally, not through an attack.
Social Media Posts
- Oops, accidentally posted this twice! 😅
Formal Reports
- The audit found the discrepancy occurred accidentally, not intentionally.
Related Words Built From “Accident”
Knowing related forms sharpens your understanding of the word family.
| Word | Meaning |
| Accident | An unplanned, unexpected event |
| Accidental | Happening by chance |
| Accidentally | In an unintended way |
| Accident-prone | Likely to experience frequent accidents |
Example Sentences
- The car accident happened during rush hour.
- His injury was purely accidental.
- She accidentally missed her connecting flight.
- He’s always been a little accident-prone.
Common Mistakes People Make
Mistake 1: Dropping the Double “L”
- ❌ She accidently forgot her umbrella.
- ✅ She accidentally forgot her umbrella.
Mistake 2: Confusing It With Similar Adverbs
- ❌ He occasionaly checks his email on weekends.
- ✅ He occasionally checks his email on weekends.
Mistake 3: Skipping the “-al” Ending Entirely
- ❌ The mistake happened accidently.
- ✅ The mistake happened accidentally.
Accidentally vs Other Commonly Misspelled Adverbs
This kind of dropped-syllable confusion shows up elsewhere too.
| Correct | Common Misspelling |
| Accidentally | Accidently |
| Occasionally | Occasionaly |
| Definitely | Definately |
| Probably | Probly |
Comparing these side by side can help train your eye for similar patterns.
Easy Ways to Remember “Accidentally”
Memory Trick 1
Think of the phrase “accidental-ly,” pronouncing each part slowly and separately.
Memory Trick 2
Remember: the adjective accidental hides completely inside the adverb.
Memory Trick 3
Compare it to occasionally, another word that keeps its double l the same way.
British English vs American English
Here’s some reassuring news. There’s no split at all.
Accidentally is spelled identically in every major English-speaking region.
| Region | Correct Spelling |
| American English | accidentally |
| British English | accidentally |
| Canadian English | accidentally |
| Australian English | accidentally |
Accidently stays incorrect everywhere in standard English.
Also read: Optimisation or Optimization: Meaning, Difference & Correct Spelling
Why Correct Spelling Actually Matters
A single missing letter can leave a bigger impression than most people expect.
In Professional Writing
Misspelling this word can quietly chip away at your credibility.
- ❌ The error occurred accidently during testing.
- ✅ The error occurred accidentally during testing.
In Academic Writing
Spelling accuracy often shapes how essays and reports get graded.
In Digital Communication
Clean, correct spelling helps build trust with readers quickly.
“Accidentally” in Spoken English
Spoken conversations sometimes blur the difference, since the word can be said quickly.
- I accidentally left my keys inside.
- She accidentally texted the wrong group chat.
Even so, the written mistake stands out clearly once you know what to look for.
What the Usage Data Shows
Dictionaries and style guides consistently confirm one spelling.
Accidentally appears as the only accepted spelling across every major English dictionary.
Accidently shows up almost entirely as a spelling mistake.
Teachers, editors, and professional writers rely exclusively on accidentally.
Common Phrases Using “Accidentally”
Accidentally On Purpose
- He dropped the hint accidentally on purpose.
Accidentally Deleted
- She accidentally deleted her entire presentation.
Accidentally Discovered
- The medication was accidentally discovered during unrelated research.
Purely Accidental
- The collision was ruled purely accidental.
More Real-Life Example Sentences
- He accidentally liked an old photo while scrolling.
- The chef accidentally added too much salt to the soup.
- She accidentally booked the wrong flight date.
- The intern accidentally cc’d the entire office.
- He accidentally left his laptop at the coffee shop.
- The toddler accidentally knocked over the blocks.
- She accidentally replied to the wrong message thread.
- The mechanic accidentally reversed the wiring at first.
Practice Exercise 1: Fill in the Blank
Choose the correct spelling for each sentence.
- He ______ spilled water on the keyboard. (Answer: accidentally)
- She ______ sent the invite twice. (Answer: accidentally)
- The file was ______ deleted overnight. (Answer: accidentally)
Practice Exercise 2: Fix the Sentence
Rewrite each sentence with the correct spelling.
- I accidently locked my keys in the car. (Answer: I accidentally locked my keys in the car.)
- She accidently texted her boss instead of her friend. (Answer: She accidentally texted her boss instead of her friend.)
- He accidently broke the office printer. (Answer: He accidentally broke the office printer.)
A Deeper Look at the Spelling
Why Does This Word Keep a Double “L”?
Because accidentally is built from accidental, not directly from accident, it naturally inherits that final l before the -ly ending gets added. Skipping straight from accident to the adverb form is exactly what creates the incorrect spelling.
Compare the Patterns
| Base Word | Adjective | Adverb |
| Accident | Accidental | Accidentally |
| Occasion | Occasional | Occasionally |
| Person | Personal | Personally |
Recognizing this three-step chain helps explain why the double l belongs there.
Accidently or Accidentally in Formal Writing
Formal writing leaves absolutely no room for the incorrect spelling.
Business Writing
- The delay occurred accidentally due to a scheduling error.
Academic Writing
- The researcher noted the data was accidentally duplicated.
Journalism
- Officials confirmed the leak happened accidentally, not deliberately.
Using accidently in any formal document will almost always be flagged as an error.
Words Related to Accidentally
| Word | Meaning |
| Unintentionally | Without meaning to do something |
| Inadvertently | Not on purpose, often through carelessness |
| Mistakenly | As a result of an error |
| Deliberately | The opposite; done on purpose |
These related words all connect to the idea of intention, or the lack of it.
Also Read: Labeller or Labeler: Meaning, Difference & Correct Spelling
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “accidently” ever an acceptable spelling?
No. It’s not accepted anywhere in standard English.
Why does “accidentally” have a double “L”?
Because it’s built from the adjective accidental, which already ends in l, before adding -ly.
Is “accidentally” spelled the same worldwide?
Yes. It’s identical across British and American English.
What’s an easy way to remember the spelling?
Say “accidental-ly” slowly, breaking it into its two clear parts.
Is “accidently” sometimes accepted informally?
No, it’s considered incorrect in both casual and formal writing.
Why is this word misspelled so often?
Its length and the temptation to shortcut from “accident” instead of “accidental” both contribute.
Does autocorrect usually catch this mistake?
Yes, most spellcheck tools flag “accidently” immediately as incorrect.
Final Thoughts
The debate over accidently or accidentally really comes down to one simple fact. Accidentally is always correct, and accidently has no accepted meaning in standard English at all.
This mistake happens because the word skips a step, building from accident instead of accidental. Once you remember that hidden middle step, the correct spelling becomes much easier to lock in.
Whether you’re writing an email, a report, or a quick text message, getting this word right adds up over time. Correct spelling makes your writing look sharper, more careful, and more credible.
Remember the shortcut: accidental plus ly equals accidentally, double l and all. Practice it a few times, and it will start feeling completely automatic.
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