Grammar Entry 640 / 1011 60-second read

Fortuitous vs. Fortunate

Traditionally: accidental, not lucky.

The comparisoni

✗ Wrong

His fortuitous win paid off.

✓ Correct

His fortunate win paid off.

The ruleii

FORTUITOUS (strict) = accidental. FORTUNATE = lucky.

FORTUITOUS originally meant "happening by chance" — neutral. Modern usage blurs it with FORTUNATE, but careful writers distinguish.

Memory aidiii

Remember it like this

FortUITous = accident. FortUNate = luck.

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