Fortuitous vs. Fortunate

Fortuitous vs. Fortunate Fortuitous vs. Fortunate Fortuitous vs. Fortunate By Sharon Its easy to mix up fortuitous with fortunate. After all, they both have aspects of luck and chance in their meaning. Fortunate means lucky, derived from the word fortune, which means luck, either good or bad. The Romans thought of fortune as a goddess who could be for you or against you. Fortuitous, on the other hand, derives from the Latin fortuitus meaning, by chance, accidental. So a fortuitous meeting is an accidental meeting, rather than a lucky one. Of course, now the waters have been further muddied. Thats because the common usage of fortuitous implies both chance and luck – in other words, a fortuitous meeting might be one that was accidental, but which worked out well for those who met. Here are some quotations to help you see the words in context: Although the 8-1 ruling hardly surprised legal observers, state officials were scrambling to review it on Tuesday, the busy first day of the legislative session. Some observers said the timing of the ruling was fortuitous for lawmakers - were they not meeting in regular session, they may have had to convene yet another special session to address it. USA Today Although the 8-1 ruling hardly surprised legal observers, state officials were scrambling to review it on Tuesday, the busy first day of the legislative session. Some observers said the timing of the ruling was fortuitous for lawmakers - were they not meeting in regular session, they may have had to convene yet another special session to address it. NY Times Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Exquisite AdjectivesDriver License vs. Driver’s LicenseEpidemic vs. Pandemic vs. Endemic

Modal Verbs Quiz with Answer Explanations

Modal Verbs Quiz with Answer Explanations This quiz asks you to match each sentence about Jack to its explanation. Reach each sentence and read the possible meanings until you find a sentence that expresses the main idea. Match the following statements with the meaning below.   Jack could get to work earlier.Jack must get to work earlier.Jack should get to work earlier.Jack needs to get to work earlier.Jack might get to work earlier.Jack has to get to work earlier.Jack couldnt get to work earlier.Jack doesnt have to get to work earlier.Jack mustnt get to work earlier.Jack shouldnt get to work earlier. Its absolutely necessary for Jack to get to work earlier.Its possible for Jack to get to work earlier.Jacks unable to get to work earlier.It isnt necessary for Jack to get to work earlier.Its forbidden for Jack to get to work earlier.Its important for Jack to get to work earlier.Its a good idea for Jack to get to work earlier.Its absolutely necessary for Jack to get to work earlier and someone forces him to do so.Its a good idea for Jack to get to work earlier.It isnt a good idea for Jack to get to work earlier.Its a possibility that Jack might get to work earlier. Modal Verb Quiz Answers with Explanations 1. Jack could get to work earlier. Answer:  Its possible for Jack to get to work earlier. 2. Jack must get to work earlier. Answer:  Its absolutely necessary for Jack to get to work earlier. 3. Jack should get to work earlier. Answer:  Its a good idea for Jack to get to work earlier. 4. Jack needs to get to work earlier. Answer:  Its important for Jack to get to work earlier. 5. Jack might get to work earlier. Answer:  Its a possibility that Jack might get to work earlier. 6. Jack has to get to work earlier. Answer:  Its absolutely necessary for Jack to get to work earlier and someone forces him to do so. 7. Jack couldnt get to work earlier. Answer:  Jacks unable to get to work earlier. 8. Jack doesnt have to get to work earlier. Answer:  It isnt necessary for Jack to get to work earlier. 9. Jack mustnt get to work earlier. Answer:  Its forbidden for Jack to get to work earlier. 10. Jack shouldnt get to work earlier. Answer:  It isnt a good idea for Jack to get to work earlier. Did you have a hard time understanding? Here is a quick guide to  basic modal verb usage. Learn more about modals with this discussion about modal verbs of probability.