Definitions
- Describing an action that is done without a specific intention or purpose. - Referring to something that happens by chance or without deliberate planning. - Talking about an event that occurs without any premeditation or forethought.
- Describing something that happens unexpectedly or unintentionally. - Referring to an event that occurs due to a mistake or error. - Talking about something that happens by chance or without prior planning.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe events that happen without deliberate intention.
- 2Both words imply that the event was not planned or expected.
- 3Both words are adverbs that modify verbs.
What is the difference?
- 1Usage: Unpurposely is less common than accidentally and may sound awkward in some contexts.
- 2Intention: Unpurposely implies that there was no intention or purpose behind the action, while accidentally suggests that the action was unintended but may have been caused by a mistake or error.
- 3Degree: Accidentally suggests a higher degree of unexpectedness or surprise than unpurposely.
- 4Connotation: Unpurposely has a neutral connotation, while accidentally can sometimes have negative connotations if the event caused harm or damage.
- 5Formality: Accidentally is more commonly used in formal writing and speech than unpurposely.
Remember this!
Unpurposely and accidentally are synonyms that describe events that happen without deliberate intention. However, unpurposely implies that there was no intention or purpose behind the action, while accidentally suggests that the action was unintended but may have been caused by a mistake or error. Additionally, accidentally is more commonly used and has a higher degree of unexpectedness or surprise.
