Vocabulary Question

[Loh Jane]

Hi English Teachers,
is the below sentence acceptable? Thanks a lot in advance.
Fortuitously, I saw my best friend in the shopping center just now.

[emsr2d2]

Hi English Teachers,
is the below sentence acceptable? Thanks a lot in advance.
Fortuitously, I saw my best friend in the shopping center just now.

We don't use "fortuitous[ly]" very often these days. I would use "Fortunately" or "Luckily". Of course, it is impossible to tell if that is the correct word without the context. Why was it fortunate/lucky that you just saw your best friend in the shopping center?

[Loh Jane]

Hi emsr2d2,
I used 'fortuitously' because I saw my friend without planning.

[emsr2d2]

Hi emsr2d2,

I used 'fortuitously' because I saw my friend without planning.

In that case, "fortuitously", "fortunately" and "luckily" are all inappropriate. You simply "bumped into" your friend "unexpectedly".

[Loh Jane]

thanks emsr2d2.
I have one last question before going to bed,how did you improve your vocabulary?Your English is so good.

[5jj]

I was on a tram recently when inspectors asked to see my tram pass. I did not have it on me, but, just as they were about to fine me, my wife fortuitously boarded the tram; she had my tram pass in her handbag.

[emsr2d2]

thanks emsr2d2.
I have one last question before going to bed,how did you improve your vocabulary?Your English is so good.

I'm a native English speaker. I have never consciously improved my vocabulary. This is just how I speak!

[Loh Jane]

Thank you 5jj for your example.