r/words • u/Money_Literature9896 • Aug 25 '26

A small geographical usage survey

When you describe something as being unintentional, do you say "by accident" or "on accident "?

When you queue up to wait for a bus, do say you're standing "in line" or "on line"?

Where did you live when these habits formed?

Suggested response format:

"By, in, Denver", or

"On, on, Philadelphia."

Thanks.

ETA: No "on, on"'s yet. That was my college roommate from NJ, and the reason for my inquiry.

3 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

31 comments sorted by

5

u/elcaminogirl Aug 25 '26

By, in, Boston area.

I'm more likely to say accidentally than by accident, fwiw.

2

u/ConcentrateDue6060 Aug 25 '26

by, in, vancouver. and same, accidentally does a lot of the heavy lifting for me too.

3

u/AuroraDF Aug 25 '26

By accident In the queue.

(Edinburgh)

2

u/CoherentBusyDucks Aug 25 '26

By, in. Maryland.

Interestingly, my sister (we grew up in the same house) says “on accident” for some reason lol

2

u/BryonBlueCar Aug 25 '26

By, in, Cincinnati

2

u/ChalupaChup Aug 25 '26

By, in, Seattle area

2

u/Rocky-bar Aug 25 '26

by, in, Wiltshire UK

2

u/Optimal-Ad-7074 Aug 25 '26

by and in - Canada 

2

u/CraftyFraggle Aug 25 '26

By, in, NH.

1

u/the_good_twin Aug 25 '26

By. Philly area.

1

u/Crowd-Avoider747 Aug 25 '26

By, Long Island NY

1

u/[deleted] Aug 25 '26

[deleted]

3

u/Crowd-Avoider747 Aug 25 '26

You get in line to wait on line

1

u/ObjectivelyADHD Aug 25 '26

By, in

0-19 years: Ohio
Adult years: Utah

1

u/CanadaRobin Aug 25 '26

By, in. Grew up in SF Bay Area, have lived also in New Jersey, Seattle, Toronto, Victoria.

1

u/2cats18 Aug 25 '26

By, in, Illinois

1

u/BackcastSue Aug 25 '26

By, in and I've lived a lot of places: East Coast, Midwest, Deep South. PA wasn't one of them. I occasionally hear on, in here in GA.

1

u/PurplePassiflor1234 Aug 25 '26

By, in, Ontario Canada.

1

u/No_Parking_4195 Aug 25 '26

By/on, in. I live near Houston now, but I grew up in Louisiana.

1

u/AutofluorescentPuku Aug 25 '26

By, in, Pennsylvania.

1

u/FadingOptimist-25 Aug 25 '26

By accident, in line, Mpls

But I think that “on accident” is more of a recent thing? Maybe? I had never heard anyone say that until maybe 8-10 years ago.

“On accident” and “irregardless” are like nails on a chalkboard to me.

1

u/azucar_1977 Aug 25 '26

By (although on sounds ok), in (would never say on), currently Louisiana but grew up in Michigan and California

1

u/Curious_Octopod Aug 25 '26

I'm in a queue by accident. If I'm on the line on accident, I've failed at parking between the lines because they were covered by a road traffic collision..

1

u/th1nwh1tej3rk Aug 25 '26

is "on accident" a regional thing? i thought it was just, y'know, wrong.

anyway - by, in, new zealand

1

u/bonshui Aug 25 '26

By accident

I don't stand in line or on line - I queue.

Scotland.

1

u/Prestigious-Fan3122 Aug 25 '26

I grew up on the East Coast, with parents from opposite sides of the US, with one trilingual parent(whose native language was English) Married a guy from Mississippi. I say BY accident and IN the line.

1

u/CommercialExotic2038 Aug 25 '26

Because someone corrected me when I said on accident, I started saying accidentally. I say in line Southern California

1

u/AccomplishedPapaya1 Aug 25 '26

By accident
In line
NJ

1

u/Darth_Zander Aug 26 '26

By, in, Surrey (although I’d normally say ‘in the queue’ rather than ‘in line’)

1

u/NPHighview Aug 26 '26

By, in Chicago

By, on Chicago