[Ads-l] on accident

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Neal Whitman discussed this topic in post at his website Literal-Minded:
https://literalminded.wordpress.com/2008/02/06/on-or-by-accident/

[Begin excerpt]
Grammar Girl summarizes the findings of Leslie Barratt of Indiana
State University . . .

  speakers born before about 1970 hardly use on accident at all;

  speakers born between 1970 and 1995 use on accident and by accident
(sometimes even an individual speaker will use both);

  speakers born after 1995 use on accident to the near exclusion of by accident.
[End excerpt]


On Fri, Jun 17, 2016 at 12:10 PM, Jonathan Lighter
<wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Typed sign under doorknob in doctor's office:
>
> "Be careful of doorknob button. Please do not lock door on accident."
>
> Clearly infl. by "on purpose."
>
> JL
>
> --
> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org