It’s there a difference in tone or meaning between accidentally and inadvertently? I feel like accidentally means they did something that was a bad thing.
Was going to say this myself and then saw your comment. Totally agree. ‘Accidently’ practically implies that the record keeping itself only happened because some pencils happened to fall on paper. They did exactly what they intended to and used it for their own purpose. It just turned out to have a different purpose, too.
For what it’s worth, those examples for ‘accident’ are being used as euphemisms to soften the blow of the intended message, and you can’t soften the blow without using soft words.
Car accidents have noun-ified the word a bit, though, so I do see where you’re coming from.
Hmm not necessarily, accidentally has no negative implication unlike accident usually has. In this particular case the meaning of accidentally is synonym with unexpectedly or by chance.
My question was a bit rhetorical. In my opinion there is a negative connotation to accidentally in this case as well. I would personally use a different word. 👍
Japanese monks and emperors kept meticulous records of cherry blossom festivals for 1,200 years. They accidentallyIn doing so they built the world’s longest climate dataset
I think a journalist might choose the word ‘unintentionally’; inadvertently is a bit clunky, it lacks a bit of music, and it gives me a sense of slapstick comedy. This sentence, for instance, “Having inadvertently caused the death of her son,” sounds to me like the son died as a result of some Pink Panther bit.
I don’t think ‘accidentally’ here needs to feel judgy per se, but it is hard to imagine an English major choosing it.
Mr Bob Ross would like a word…
I agree with you on inadvertently, but accident, if I’m not mistaken would generally considered something where you do not inherently attribute blame. At least thats what I recall being justification for making the change in UK in calling traffic ‘incidents’ incidents instead of accidents several years back. Dunno if it stuck though.
Interesting. Although I still maintain that accident bears a negative connotation, even though blame isn’t necessarily a factor. As if the outcome was a negative thing, rather than a positive, as in this case.
It’s there a difference in tone or meaning between accidentally and inadvertently? I feel like accidentally means they did something that was a bad thing.
I salute you. Few are those who take the time to find appropriate word for the meaning.
Aww, shit. Now there’s record all over the floor… I’ll go get the data bin…
You got the statistimop there as well? (I’m reaching…)
Love the user name, by the way. 👌
Thanks! You can have it!
Edit: I like eating poops. Yum yum.
2nd Edit: @victorz@lemmy.world why would you write something that like???
Was going to say this myself and then saw your comment. Totally agree. ‘Accidently’ practically implies that the record keeping itself only happened because some pencils happened to fall on paper. They did exactly what they intended to and used it for their own purpose. It just turned out to have a different purpose, too.
That’s an even better way of looking at it, to avoid “accidentally”. Great point!
Accidents don’t have to be bad? Accident means just “not on purpose” it has no connotation either way
Right. When someone is accused of something, and they say “But it was an accident!”, that’s exactly what it means.
But if you shit yourself and say “I had an accident.”, that’s not what it means. Or you call your parents and say, “I was in an accident.”
It has different connotations and in this case I’m conflicted, and therefore I would’ve chosen a different word.
I’m not reading any negative connotation at all.
For what it’s worth, those examples for ‘accident’ are being used as euphemisms to soften the blow of the intended message, and you can’t soften the blow without using soft words.
Car accidents have noun-ified the word a bit, though, so I do see where you’re coming from.
Surely “car accidents” aren’t the only way it’s been “noun-ified”?
Even the Latin form would mean “misfortune”.
I’m sorry, I don’t speak Latin.
You… don’t need to be able to in order to follow along here. I provided an image as well. 👍
Mate, I’m familiar with the history of the word. I don’t read any negative connotations in the form OP is using.
Alright, mate.
Then I don’t understand what you’re argument is. You know the connotation people have, you know the origins of the word… 🤷♂️
I had an inadvertent!
Incidentally would be more accurate perhaps.
I looked up the definitions of incidentally and inadvertently, and inadvertently is a better fit IMO.
Hmm not necessarily, accidentally has no negative implication unlike accident usually has. In this particular case the meaning of accidentally is synonym with unexpectedly or by chance.
My question was a bit rhetorical. In my opinion there is a negative connotation to accidentally in this case as well. I would personally use a different word. 👍
They accidentally became climate change wackos supporting a communist agenda to make everyone gay and push taxes supporting public transportation.
I agree it seems a strange choice of words.
Something like that seems more straightforward.
I think “inadvertently” fits in that it isn’t what they were intending to do.
“Accidentally” feels sorta judgy.
I think a journalist might choose the word ‘unintentionally’; inadvertently is a bit clunky, it lacks a bit of music, and it gives me a sense of slapstick comedy. This sentence, for instance, “Having inadvertently caused the death of her son,” sounds to me like the son died as a result of some Pink Panther bit.
I don’t think ‘accidentally’ here needs to feel judgy per se, but it is hard to imagine an English major choosing it.
Yeah I like “unintentionally” better as well.
Why do I feel like we are making AI better by having this conversation?
Yeah. “It was an accident” sounds like pleading, excusing. “I inadvertently…” sounds like an explanation of the facts. imo
I agree, but I think here “accidentally” is used in an ironic manner because this is of course not actually a bad thing.
Mr Bob Ross would like a word…
I agree with you on inadvertently, but accident, if I’m not mistaken would generally considered something where you do not inherently attribute blame. At least thats what I recall being justification for making the change in UK in calling traffic ‘incidents’ incidents instead of accidents several years back. Dunno if it stuck though.
incidentally feels better here than accidentally or inadvertantly
Interesting. Although I still maintain that accident bears a negative connotation, even though blame isn’t necessarily a factor. As if the outcome was a negative thing, rather than a positive, as in this case.
Wait is that real? I thought it was just a joke when it was said in Hot Fuzz
tbf it was played straight in Hot Fuzz, Sgt. Angel was right and there was somebody who caused it.
Depends on who you ask.
I’m asking someone who has insight 😅