Yesterday somebody pointed out to me that for people under 30, the phrase “by accident” has largely been replaced by “on accident”. Someone in the conversation who is under 30 nodded and said “yes, it’s ‘on accident'”.
I found this startling because I had literally never, until that moment, heard the phrase “on accident”. I always use “by accident”. I think this is a clear example of the English language evolving before our eyes.
I must admit that “on accident” is more logical than “by accident”. After all, it parallels the complementary phrase “on purpose”.
But a related question is why such a mutation occurs. Surely it can’t be completely by accident.
Or on accident, if you prefer.