Which is Correct?
The correct spelling is accidentally.
Accidently is a common misspelling and is generally considered incorrect in standard English.
Why the Confusion?
People often drop the -al- when speaking quickly, leading to the mistaken belief that "accidently" is acceptable. However, the adverb form of the adjective accidental is formed by adding -ly, resulting in accidentally.
Examples
- She accidentally deleted the file.
- He accidentally spilled coffee on his shirt.
- They met accidentally at the airport.
Tip for Remembering
Think: “It was an accidental event, so I did it accidentally.” Keep the root word accidental intact when forming the adverb.