Home of English Grammar

Free Guide (Updated for 2023)

  • Home
  • Download Lessons
  • Grammar Rules
  • Online Exercises
  • Online Tools
    • Grammar Checker
    • Word Counter
  • Guides
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Difference / Fortuitous vs. Fortunate

Fortuitous vs. Fortunate

August 25, 2017 - pdf

The words fortuitous and fortunate are two terms that are often mixed up by writers. This may be because their meanings have something to do with luck and chance. This post will guide you through determining the differences between these two terms and hopefully help you to use them accurately in your writing.

The word fortuitous is commonly used as an adjective that means “happening by accident or chance rather than design.” Its synonyms include accidental, unplanned, and coincidental.

Arsenal news: We’re conceding too many fortuitous goals, admits Petr Cech
The Independent

Episcopal finally gets a fortuitous bounce and knocks off Bullis on senior night
Washington Post

Fortuitous chat pays off in exemption into this week’s AT&T Byron Nelson Classic
Sacramento Bee

However, it may sometimes be used informally to mean “happening by a lucky chance” or as a synonym to fortunate.

A fortuitous find
Dalhousie University News

West Ham thanking their lucky stars after fortuitous home win over Hull
ESPN FC

Lucky bamboo: A fortuitous plant for Chinese New Year
Chicago Tribune

On the other hand, the term fortunate is used as an adjective meaning “favored by or involving good luck or fortune” or “bringing some good thing not foreseen as certain.” Its synonyms include lucky, auspicious, and favorable.

Singapore fortunate to have an equal, multiracial society
The Straits Times

Kids read to provide sheep and goats to less fortunate
Port Townsend Leader

Rescue crews say Prius driver fortunate after San Rafael bus accident
KGO-TV

Despite this original distinction, current writers use fortuitous and fortunate interchangeably. If you want to retain the traditional meanings of the words, remember that anything that happened by chance or accident is fortuitious, while people or events that are favored by good luck are fortunate.

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
1,190,399 
601,640 

Check Your Grammar

GrammarCheck.net - Try online
Hint → Bookmark GrammarCheck for future use.

Latest Exercises

  • Vocabulary Exercise March 17, 2023
  • Future Forms Quiz March 15, 2023
  • Conditionals Exercise March 14, 2023
  • Prepositions Quiz March 12, 2023
  • Mixed Grammar Exercise March 11, 2023
  • Prepositions Exercise March 10, 2023
  • Intermediate Level Grammar Exercise March 10, 2023
  • If vs. Unless vs. Without March 8, 2023
  • Conditional Clauses Exercise March 7, 2023

Topics

  • Adjectives
  • Adverbs
  • Business Writing
  • Commas
  • Conjunctions
  • Creative Writing
  • Difference
  • Essay Writing
  • Exercises
  • Learning
  • Lessons
  • Nouns
  • Prepositions
  • Pronouns
  • Proofreading
  • Punctuation
  • Quiz
  • Spelling
  • Style Guide
  • Teaching
  • Terms
  • Verbs
  • Words
  • Writing

Quiz

  • Can you correct these 14 basic grammar mistakes?
  • What kind of writer are you?

Copyright © 2023 · EnglishGrammar.org
Disclaimer · Privacy Policy · Sitemap