Cool MateA coincidence is possible vs Accident vs Fluke
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
A coincidence is possible
Accident
Fluke
| A coincidence is possible | Accident | Fluke | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ə kəʊˈɪnsɪdəns ɪz ˈpɒsəbl//🇺🇸 //ə koʊˈɪn.sɪ.dəns ɪz ˈpɑː.sə.bəl// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈæksɪdənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈæksɪdənt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //fluːk//🇺🇸 //fluːk// |
| Meaning | It can happen by chance. | Something that happens unexpectedly, usually causing harm or damage. | A lucky chance or accident. |
| Example | It was just a coincidence that we met here. | The car accident caused a long traffic jam. | Winning the lottery was just a complete fluke. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly 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… | lucky fluke, total fluke, fluke event |
| 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. | Confusing with 'flukes' in anatomy., Using as a verb instead of a noun., Mixing up with 'lucky' or 'chance' in contexts. |
| 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. | Often used informally to describe unexpected good fortune. Not suitable for formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: A coincidence is possible vs Accident vs Fluke
What's the difference between A coincidence is possible, Accident, and Fluke?
A coincidence is possible: It can happen by chance. Accident: Something that happens unexpectedly, usually causing harm or damage. Fluke: A lucky chance or accident.
Which is more common: A coincidence is possible, Accident, and Fluke?
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. Fluke: Winning the lottery was just a complete fluke.
Can I use A coincidence is possible, Accident, and Fluke interchangeably?
Not always. A coincidence is possible, Accident, and Fluke 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.