Yes language changes and evolves but that doesn’t mean we have to just sit back and allow it to be degraded and say it is merely “changing.” “On accident” doesn’t make sense and is gramatically incorrect, so let’s get back to the proper version!

I consider this a minor-enough instance of the evolving English language as not to be worth fretting over… any more than David’s use of the word “Alas,” which used to be a commonly-used word, now relegated to being dredged out of antiquity just to make a verbal point.

So can we go back to getting “like” out of our every-fourth-word lexicon, please?

Finally, if the tragic race is won or lost on accident or luck, the tragedy is vaporized because there is no motive for admiring a winner (temporary and partial winner though he always proves to be) or sympathizing with a loser.

In 1996, a literary collection associated with the prominent authors Joyce Carol Oates, James Ragan, and X. J. Kennedy titled “Southern California Anthology, Volume 13″ included the criticized phrase:

And later on, when they took off their clothes for the evening, she put it on yet another time, somewhat unknowingly, as if it happened on accident.

Below are some more citations from newspapers, magazines and books. Language is a living organism that is continually undergoing metamorphosis. Sometimes it is not pretty.

Asked if the Angels might be aiming at Giants leadoff batter Kenny Lofton, as the Cardinals did in the NLCS, Appier said, “It may happen on accident. . . . But you can hit anyone on accident.”

Angel’s Notebook by Susan Slusser, San Francisco Chronicle, October 19, 2002.

“The acting thing happened on accident,” Durst said.

“Fred Durst: The Next Martin Scorsese?” by Corey Moss MTV.com, Dec 27 2005.

On one hand, fashion is collective consciousness at work which makes it really tough to design something that has never been done, or won’t be done, on accident, at the same exact time as my wonderful idea.

“Interview: Lindsay Stewart”, Papierdoll Fashion Magazine, August 1st, 2005.

You must be focused on this dream. Because if you want more, you must become more! Success isn’t done on accident!

“Living Rich: A State of Mind!” by Josef Quiroz, CPA & Marciel Quiroz, 2007.

“It kind of happened accidentally. But at the same time, I’m a believer that nothing happens on accident.”

“Plies finds fame through hip-hop happenstance”, Peoria Journal Star, Oct 01, 2008.

As the great Stephen Fry says, language can and will always change always and who is to say what is right and wrong.

My ex-wife when learning English used to complain that unlike other languages which have many rules and few exceptions, English is the other way around. Too few rules and many many exceptions, many of which are simply accepted. American English is now more dominant due to the influence of films and television. I have heard people use the word ‘period’ instead of ‘full stop’ quite often now. Even Tony Blair used it once in a press conference. Hard to stop the changes despite the desire.

I only know I will glare menacingly at anyone who says ‘on accident’.

Perhaps I have become a pedant in my middle years?

http://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/2009/07/on-accident.html

language is just fun to mess with. and it’s changing all the time. those changes rarely being complete, one is free to use all variants to express similar ideas in subtly different ways. it’s all good!

However, I do find the age break interesting. The usage probably does have a common origin.

Someday, I should just give up and learn Esperanto.

If our national rules of grammar are amended for “on accident,” you won’t hear, like, a peek out of me.