Mastering transitional adverbs makes your writing flow naturally. Among these, the word incidentally often causes confusion. Writers frequently misuse it as a filler word or misplace it within a sentence, muddying their message.
At its core, incidentally serves two distinct functions. It either means "by the way" when introducing a tangential remark, or it describes something happening as a minor consequence of a primary action ("occurring incidentally"). Understanding the difference between these two uses prevents awkward phrasing and sharpens your prose.
Defining Incidentally: The Two Primary Meanings
Before you use the word in a sentence, you need to know which definition applies to your context. Mixing up these two meanings leads to confusing or ambiguous writing.
1. By the Way (Transition)
In most conversational and formal writing, incidentally functions as a sentence adverb meaning "by the way" or "as a minor note of interest." It introduces information that is related to the conversation or context but is not strictly necessary to the main point.
- Example: "We discussed the quarterly budget for an hour; incidentally, nobody mentioned the marketing expenses."
- Example: "Incidentally, did you remember to sign the visitor log?"
2. As a Minor Consequence (Adverb of Manner)
Less commonly in casual speech, but frequently in technical, legal, or scientific writing, incidentally means "incidentally to" or "as an incidental result of" another event. It describes an occurrence that happens purely by chance while something else is taking place.
- Example: "The software update accidentally deleted local files, but it incidentally improved system boot times by ten percent."
- Example: "While excavating for the new foundation, construction crews incidentally uncovered a 19th-century well."
Correct Punctuation and Placement
Where you place incidentally in a sentence changes its rhythm and tone. Because it often acts as an independent parenthetical element, punctuation is critical.
When you use incidentally to mean "by the way" at the beginning of a sentence, always follow it with a comma.
- Correct: "Incidentally, the office closes early on Fridays."
- Incorrect: "Incidentally the office closes early on Fridays."
When you place it in the middle of a sentence, enclose it in commas if it interrupts the flow of thought.
- Correct: "The primary report, incidentally, contained several minor calculation errors."
- Correct: "The committee chose the second proposal, which incidentally met all our financial criteria."
When you use it to describe an accidental occurrence without a pause in speech, omit the commas.
- Correct: "The medication relieved her headache and incidentally lowered her blood pressure."
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Writers often stumble when using this word in professional or academic contexts. Avoiding these common traps keeps your writing clean and precise.
Overusing It as a Crutch
Some writers drop incidentally into paragraphs simply to sound conversational. If the tangential thought adds no real value to the reader, cut it entirely. Rely on strong transitions only when they genuinely connect two ideas.
Confusing It with Accidentally
While incidentally and accidentally sound similar, they mean different things.
- Accidentally means by mistake or unintentionally ("I accidentally deleted the spreadsheet").
- Incidentally means by chance or as a secondary note ("I was looking for my keys and incidentally found my lost passport").
Never use incidentally when you mean an error or a mistake occurred.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I start a formal essay with "incidentally"?
It's generally best to avoid starting formal essays or business reports with incidentally. Because it signals a shift to a secondary or tangential point, opening with it can make your thesis feel disorganized. Save it for mid-paragraph pivots where a secondary point naturally arises.
Is a comma always required after "incidentally"?
When it acts as an introductory transition meaning "by the way," yes, a comma is required. If it integrates directly into the sentence structure as an adverb describing how something happened (meaning "incidentally to"), omit the comma.
How does "incidentally" differ from "meanwhile"?
Meanwhile indicates that two events happen at the exact same time in different places. Incidentally introduces a secondary point that is logically connected to the current topic but not necessarily occurring simultaneously.
Is "incidentally" considered outdated?
Not at all. While conversational speech favors "by the way," incidentally remains a standard, highly effective transitional adverb in modern journalism, legal drafting, and literature.
