Writing Tip 33: “By Accident” vs. “On Accident”
It’s a debate for the ages. Seriously, the correct answer here depends largely on your year of birth. While “by accident” is the standard form, there seems to have been a defining mass media moment that affected the younger generations. Parallel in form to “on purpose,” “on accident” has only become common in recent years. The best research breakdown we’ve seen notes that people 35 and up say “by accident,” that people between 10 and 35 say both forms, and that people 10 and under say “on accident.”
What do you think about this shift? Is it okay to have two correct forms, or should traditional rule win the expression?