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I never heard “on accident” until I was in college. I was volunteering at a family camp for children with brain tumors and a 6 year old sibling kept saying that he did things “on accident.” He was from a different part of the country (US) so I always assumed it was regional.
“On accident” probably started since it contrasts easily with “on purpose”, and we spend so much time driving. More people seem to say it now, just because people hear it and repeat it.
I’m no English snob, I like variations, but this one is grating to the ears. I only noticed it about 20 years ago. I hoped it would die out, since “by accident” rolls off the tongue well. But language works as a meme, so there’s no telling how it evolves. There is zero confusion over meaning, so the fact it makes no literal sense doesn’t matter. I predict we’re stuck with it…oh well.
They just think it’s the opposite of “on purpose”, it’s an easy mistake really, I understand that mistake more than I understand mistakes like “alot” or “brake/break”.
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As opposed to “on purpose.”
American
It’s on accident
It’s absolute ignorance.
The correct useage is “by accident”.
People commonly use bad grammar.
I never heard “on accident” until I was in college. I was volunteering at a family camp for children with brain tumors and a 6 year old sibling kept saying that he did things “on accident.” He was from a different part of the country (US) so I always assumed it was regional.
Because its a set phrase using a preposition and “some people” memorized it incorrectly
“On accident” probably started since it contrasts easily with “on purpose”, and we spend so much time driving. More people seem to say it now, just because people hear it and repeat it.
I’m no English snob, I like variations, but this one is grating to the ears. I only noticed it about 20 years ago. I hoped it would die out, since “by accident” rolls off the tongue well. But language works as a meme, so there’s no telling how it evolves. There is zero confusion over meaning, so the fact it makes no literal sense doesn’t matter. I predict we’re stuck with it…oh well.
Because they are illiterate.
Same reason some say “supposably” vs supposedly
Or “nucelar” vs nuclear 🤷🏻♀️
They just think it’s the opposite of “on purpose”, it’s an easy mistake really, I understand that mistake more than I understand mistakes like “alot” or “brake/break”.
I usually say “an accident”
It’s accidentally, as opposed to purposefully.