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incidentally

incidentally

159 4.8
To add extra information not directly related
  • adverb
  • /ˌɪn.sɪˈdɛn.t̬əl.i/
translation icon : por cierto
  • And incidentally, if you should ever need a ride, just stick out your thumb.
  • incidentally, one
  • incidentally, one can also

That much, that much, incidentally, is not a conjecture.

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Examples

  • Incidentally, this is very interesting.

  • How is your mother, incidentally?

  • This C here is not the speed of light, incidentally, right?

  • Which, incidentally, is not such a bad idea.

  • The activity at issue is simply the act of living, and incidentally, of getting older.

    Blog text (5)
  • Both schools, incidentally, appear on Money magazine's list of schools that offer the best value.

    Academic text (1998)
  • So if you go here and here, you can go into silent mode, which incidentally makes it run very quiet.

  • It's a present, incidentally, but you don't have to thank me.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Incidentally, you're a tremendous athlete.

  • Incidentally, I met your brother at the store yesterday, incidentally.

Synonyms

besides
vsincidentally
1.0

To add another reason or fact

introduces information as a separate, possibly unrelated topic instead of adding reasons
by the way
vsincidentally
  • Informal
448 1.5

To introduce a new topic that is not directly related

is slightly more formal in tone than this conversational phrase
in passing
vsincidentally
27 3.8

While mentioning something briefly without giving it much attention

introduces topics as distinct remarks rather than brief side mentions
another thing
vsincidentally
11 1.6

A phrase to add an extra point and mention a problem when speaking or writing

is used to start a new unrelated topic rather than adding one more related point
parenthetically
vsincidentally
3 7.5

As a short side remark that someone adds in parentheses

introduces new or extra information without using parentheses or aside formatting
by the bye
vsincidentally
  • Archaic
1 9.0

To say something extra that is not about the main topic

is the modern neutral form rather than the older quaint expression
come to mention it
vsincidentally
  • UK
1 7.1

Saying this shows you have just remembered something related

introduces topics regardless of memory, not only when something was recalled
BTW
vsincidentally
  • Texting
7.2

To add a short extra comment in a message or conversation

is the full expression rather than an abbreviation
apropos
vsincidentally
  • Formal
8.1

To introduce a new topic that is related to what was said

introduces topics that are not directly related rather than stressing relevance

How Related

for instance
666 1.5
incidentally
159 4.8
by the way
  • Informal
448 1.5
aside
  • Literature
7 5.5

Surface Forms

incidentally positive

Morphology

incidentally = incidental (semi-transparent) = incident + al + ly

The adverbial formation from 'incidental' is regular, but the pragmatic usage 'by the way' is an extension of the adjective's sense and may not be fully predictable to learners.

Etymology

The word incidentally is also used like 'by the way' because it comes from the idea of a small event that 'falls into' a conversation. That's why when you say incidentally you are adding a side note or a new, not central topic.