Introduction / Context:
Here, the adjective "incidental" conveys the idea of something occurring by chance or as a minor, non-essential accompaniment. To locate the antonym, we must negate the element of chance and introduce purposeful agency, which guides us to "intentional" rather than to unrelated descriptors like "conventional" or "permissible."
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Target word: incidental (minor, occurring by chance or in connection with something else).
- Context: an error in a newspaper article.
- Goal: find the direct opposite that implies purpose or design.
Concept / Approach:
"Incidental" contrasts with deliberate or planned. "Intentional" explicitly encodes purposefulness and volition, making it the standard antonym. Words like "conventional" (customary), "usual" (common), and "permissible" (allowed) do not reverse chance vs purpose; meanwhile "accidental" is actually a near-synonym of "incidental" in many contexts, not an opposite.
Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Interpret incidental as unplanned/secondary.2) Identify the negating counterpart: deliberate/intentional.3) Among choices, only "intentional" indicates purpose-driven action.4) Eliminate semantic distractors that change topic (custom, permission, frequency).
Verification / Alternative check:
Substitute into the sentence: "The error … is intentional" flips the meaning from accidental oversight to purposeful insertion, demonstrating clear antonymy.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
conventional: Means customary; unrelated to intention.usual: Frequency descriptor; not an antonym.permissible: About rules/allowance; not about intention.accidental: Near-synonym; same polarity as incidental.
Common Pitfalls:
Confusing "incidental" with "accidental." Though often related, the antonymic target is purpose vs chance, best captured by "intentional."
Final Answer:
intentional
Discussion & Comments