Cool MateA coincidence is possible vs Accident
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
A coincidence is possible
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Accident
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Most common: Accident
| A coincidence is possible | Accident | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ə kəʊˈɪnsɪdəns ɪz ˈpɒsəbl//🇺🇸 //ə koʊˈɪn.sɪ.dəns ɪz ˈpɑː.sə.bəl// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈæksɪdənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈæksɪdənt/"]/ |
| Meaning | It can happen by chance. | Something that happens unexpectedly, usually causing harm or damage. |
| Example | It was just a coincidence that we met here. | The car accident caused a long traffic jam. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | strange coincidence, freak coincidence, rare coincidence, happy coincidence | bad, dreadful, horrible, be involved in, have, meet with, happen, occur, take place, black spot, victim, prevention, in an/the accident, an accident involving, an accident waiting to happen, the scene of the accident, mere, pure, sheer, by accident, an accident of birth, an accident of history, be no accident that… |
| Antonyms | a planned event, a deliberate act, a designed outcome | intentional act, design |
| Common mistakes | Using 'coincidence' as a verb., Confusing with 'incident' or 'happening'., Misplacing 'possible' as an adjective for 'coincidence'. | Confused with 'incident' - 'incident' can imply a more serious event., Using 'accident' in a context where something was done deliberately., Incorrectly using 'accident' as a verb. |
| Usage notes | Use when discussing unexpected occurrences. More formal contexts might prefer 'it is possible that something coincided'. | Use 'accident' in both formal and informal contexts when discussing unintentional events. Avoid using it in situations where intent is involved or when describing planned events. |
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Frequently asked questions: A coincidence is possible vs Accident
What's the difference between A coincidence is possible and Accident?
A coincidence is possible: It can happen by chance. Accident: Something that happens unexpectedly, usually causing harm or damage.
Which is more common: A coincidence is possible and Accident?
Accident is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
A coincidence is possible: It was just a coincidence that we met here. Accident: The car accident caused a long traffic jam.
Can I use A coincidence is possible and Accident interchangeably?
Not always. A coincidence is possible and Accident are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.