Coincidental vs. Incidental: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Coincidental refers to events happening by chance without a planned connection, while incidental means occurring as a minor or secondary consequence.
Key Differences
Coincidental describes events that occur together by chance, without intentional planning, contrasting with incidental, which refers to something that occurs as a secondary or minor aspect.
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Nov 28, 2023
Coincidences are often surprising due to their unexpected nature, differing from incidental occurrences that are more minor elements or side effects.
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Coincidental events are not caused by one another, but happen to align, unlike incidental events, which are often a byproduct or lesser part of a larger situation.
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In storytelling, a coincidental plot point might be seen as less believable, whereas incidental details can enrich the narrative without being central.
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Coincidental occurrences are typically unrelated to the main course of events, whereas incidental factors, though not primary, are still related to the overall context.
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Nov 28, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Happening by chance without planned connection
Occurring as a minor or secondary consequence
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Relation to Main Event
Unrelated and by chance
Related but not of primary importance
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Frequency of Occurrence
Can be rare and surprising
More common as a side aspect
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Impact
Generally does not affect the main outcome
Often a minor or indirect effect on outcome
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Narrative Role
Often seen as a plot twist or surprise
Used to provide additional detail or context
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Coincidental and Incidental Definitions
Coincidental
Occurring by chance without planned arrangement.
Meeting my childhood friend in a foreign country was coincidental.
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Incidental
Not central to the matter at hand.
Her comments were incidental to the main discussion.
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Coincidental
Happening at the same time by accident.
Their arrival at the party was purely coincidental.
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Incidental
Arising as a collateral aspect.
The incidental damage was minimal.
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Coincidental
A surprising chance occurrence.
It was coincidental that they both wore the same dress.
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Incidental
Subordinate in importance or occurrence.
The findings were incidental to the research's main aim.
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Coincidental
Unplanned simultaneous occurrence.
The power outage and our arrival were coincidental.
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Incidental
Occurring as a minor or secondary result.
The incidental benefits of the project were surprising.
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Incidental
Occurring or likely to occur as an unpredictable or minor consequence
"the principle that even annoying, intrusive, and offensive speech is to be protected by the courts and tolerated by the public as incidental to an open society" (Frederick Schauer).
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Incidental
A minor accompanying item or expense
A pocket in the suitcase for incidentals.
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Incidental
Loosely associated; of limited relevance except indirectly; only accident related.
That character, though colorful, is incidental to the overall plot.
Incidental evidence
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Incidental
Existing tangentially, being a byproduct, a tangent, or a likely consequence.
Injuries are incidental to contact sports: they're going to happen.
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Coincidental
Occurring or operating at the same time;
A series of coincident events
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Coincidental
Non-causal relationship between events.
Their resignations happening on the same day was coincidental.
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Incidental
Entering or approaching, prior to reflection (more frequently incident).
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Incidental
Minor items, not further defined. Incidental expense.
She's costing us a lot in incidentals.
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Incidental
Happening, as an occasional event, without regularity; coming without design; casual; accidental; hence, not of prime concern; subordinate; collateral; as, an incidental conversation; an incidental occurrence; incidental expenses.
By some, religious duties . . . appear to be regarded . . . as an incidental business.
I treat either or incidentally of colors.
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Oct 19, 2023
Incidental
An incident; that which is incidental; esp., in the plural, an aggregate of subordinate or incidental items not particularized; as, the expense of tuition and incidentals.
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Incidental
(frequently plural) an expense not budgeted or not specified;
He requested reimbursement of $7 for incidental expenses
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Incidental
(sometimes followed by `to') minor or casual or subordinate in significance or nature or occurring as a chance concomitant or consequence;
Incidental expenses
The road will bring other incidental advantages
Extra duties incidental to the job
Labor problems incidental to a rapid expansion
Confusion incidental to a quick change
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Incidental
Following as a consequence;
An excessive growth of bureaucracy, with related problems
Snags incidental to the changeover in management
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Incidental
Not of prime or central importance;
Nonessential to the integral meanings of poetry
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Incidental
Occurring as a minor consequence.
Incidental expenses were covered by the company.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
How common are coincidental events?
They can occur but are not typically common due to their random nature.
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Can coincidences be significant?
While coincidental, some events can have significant personal meaning.
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Is coincidental always positive?
Not necessarily; coincidental events can be neutral or negative.
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Are incidental expenses significant?
They can add up but are not the main costs in a budget.
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Are incidental occurrences planned?
No, they are usually unplanned but are minor aspects of a larger situation.
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Can incidental aspects be ignored?
Sometimes, as they are not central, but they can still be important.
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Are coincidental events predictable?
No, coincidental events are unpredictable and happen by chance.
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Can coincidences be meaningful?
People often find personal meaning in coincidental events.
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What does coincidental mean?
Coincidental refers to events happening by chance without a planned connection.
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Nov 28, 2023
What does incidental mean?
Incidental refers to something occurring as a minor or secondary consequence.
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Is every unplanned event coincidental?
Not all; some unplanned events can be incidental.
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Do incidental aspects require attention?
Sometimes, especially if they pose potential risks or benefits.
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Do incidental findings impact decisions?
They can, depending on their relevance to the main issue.
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Can coincidental events be related?
They appear related by timing but have no causal connection.
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Can coincidences be engineered?
True coincidences are natural and not engineered.
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Can one predict a coincidental event?
By nature, coincidental events are not predictable.
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How do incidental factors affect a plan?
They might require minor adjustments but don’t typically change the overall plan.
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Are incidental findings always off-topic?
Not always; they can be related to the main topic but not central.
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Do coincidences have causes?
Coincidences occur without a causal relationship between the events.
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Are incidental elements always minor?
Generally, but they can have more significance in certain contexts.
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Nov 28, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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