inadvertently

Meaning

1. 1adverbnot comparable

   In a way that was not planned or meant, usually because you were not paying enough attention.

   Grammar: Sits before the main verb or at the end of a clause: she inadvertently deleted the file.

   Patterns

   • inadvertently do something
   • inadvertently cause something

   I inadvertently sent the message to the whole department instead of to my manager.

   He had inadvertently left the gate open, and the dog was gone.

   The cook inadvertently added salt twice, so the soup was almost inedible.

Common combinations

inadvertently reveal

The spokesman inadvertently revealed the date of the product launch.

inadvertently cause

The new rule inadvertently caused delays at every checkpoint.

inadvertently delete

She inadvertently deleted a week of work with one careless click.

inadvertently leave out

The editor inadvertently left out the final paragraph.

inadvertently overlook

The committee inadvertently overlooked the smallest applicant.

Synonyms and how they differ

accidentally

Accidentally is the everyday choice and also covers pure bad luck, whereas inadvertently points to a slip caused by not paying attention.

unintentionally

Unintentionally simply says there was no plan to do it, while inadvertently hints at carelessness or a lapse of focus.

unwittingly

Unwittingly stresses that the person did not know what they were doing or what it would lead to, rather than that they were careless.

by mistake

By mistake is more casual and fits spoken English, while inadvertently sounds more formal and fits reports and explanations.

Opposites

Word family

inadvertent adjective

not done on purpose, as in an inadvertent error

inadvertence noun

a lapse of attention that leads to a mistake (formal)

advertent adjective

paying attention; a rare opposite of inadvertent

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “inadvertently”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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