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coincidentally

keung

Senior Member
Chinese
Hi All,

“the lovers leapt off the tower just as a hay wagon coincidentally happened to be passing below.”

I wonder if " happened to be " necessary here ?
would it re-wirte into
1.the lovers leapt off the tower just as a hay wagon was coincidentally passing below.
2. the lovers leapt off the tower just as a hay wagon happened to be passing below.

THX!
Hi All,

“the lovers leapt off the tower just as a hay wagon coincidentally happened to be passing below.”

I wonder if " happened to be " necessary here ?
would it re-wirte into
1.the lovers leapt off the tower just as a hay wagon was coincidentally passing below.
2. the lovers leapt off the tower just as a hay wagon happened to be passing below.

THX! Thanks!

Good call, Keung. "coincidentally" and "happened to be" mean virtually the same thing in this context, so one of them is redundant. Your revised sentences are fine.
I agree that they both are fine. However, I prefer #2. To my ear, it is much more idiomatic.
I agree that they both are fine. However, I prefer #2. To my ear, it is much more idiomatic.
Me too.
For some reason, happened to be seems to carry just the right sense of chance and good fortune. Coincidentally doesn't seem to fit.
Sorry, I can't explain it any better.
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