At Random – Meaning and Examples
How does a teacher sometimes choose a student to answer a question? They might pick a name at random. This common idiom means to do something without a specific plan, order, or reason. Learning at random will help you describe actions that are unplanned or chosen by chance.
What Does “At Random” Mean?
“At random” means without a definite aim, pattern, or method. It describes an action that is done by chance, not by choice or a system.
Think of it like this: If you close your eyes and point to a place on a map, you are choosing a destination at random. There is no reason you picked that specific spot.
Remember, it emphasizes the lack of a specific plan or order.
When to Use It
You can use this idiom in many situations involving chance or lack of order.
- Selection: “The winners were chosen at random from all the entries.”
- Order: “The books on the shelf were placed at random.”
- Action: “He fired his gun at random into the air.”
The tone is neutral and descriptive. It is common in both informal and formal language, especially in statistics and science.
Example Sentences
- The computer selects numbers at random for the lottery.
- She opened the book at random and started reading.
- People were interviewed at random on the street for the survey.
- The papers were scattered at random across the desk.
Mini Dialogue
Teacher: “I will now select a student at random to answer the question.”
Student 1: “How will you choose?”
Teacher: “I’ll pick a name from a hat at random.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The main mistake is confusing “at random” with “randomly.” They mean the same thing, but “at random” is an adverbial phrase, while “randomly” is an adverb. They are often interchangeable, but “at random” is more common in formal writing.
❌ Don’t say: “He randomly at selected a card.” (This is grammatically incorrect).
✅ Do say: “He selected a card at random.” OR “He randomly selected a card.”
Practice Tip
Try a simple experiment. Ask a friend to pick a number between 1 and 10 at random. Then you can say, “You chose that number at random.” It’s a fun way to see the idiom in action.
Final Note
This is a very useful phrase for talking about chance, selection, and disorder. It helps you describe situations where there is no specific plan. You will find it helpful in everyday conversation and in more technical discussions!
