Incidences vs Incidents Quiz: Test Yourself
Five quick questions on incidences vs incidents. Pick an answer to get instant feedback.
Flip Cards: Quick Review
Hover over a card, or tap it on mobile, to see the meaning.
A single event, often unpleasant or notable.
“The incident was reported to the manager.”
How often something occurs; its rate or extent.
“The incidence of flu rises in winter.”
A rare plural, used to compare separate rates.
“Incidences of the illness differ by region.”
A safe alternative for examples or cases of something.
“There were several instances of delay.”
Writers often stop to ask incidences vs incidents because the two words look nearly identical and both relate to things that happen. The difference is simple: an incident is one event, while incidence describes how often events like it occur. This guide explains the difference between incidences and incidents, shows when each is correct, and gives you quick tricks to choose the right word.
| Term | Meaning | Part of speech / Category | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| incident | A single event, often unpleasant or notable | Noun (singular) | The incident was reported to security. |
| incidents | More than one individual event | Noun (plural) | No incidents were reported during the festival. |
| incidence | How often something occurs; its rate or extent | Noun (usually singular) | The incidence of burnout is rising. |
| incidences | Plural of incidence; separate rates being compared | Noun (rare plural) | Incidences of the illness vary by region. |
| prevalence | How many cases exist in total at a given time | Noun (related term) | The prevalence of allergies is high in cities. |
What does “incident” mean?
An incident is a single event or occurrence, especially one that is unpleasant, unusual or worth recording. The plural, incidents, simply means more than one of them.
- The airline apologized for the incident on Flight 12.
- No incidents were reported during the festival.
- Please fill out an incident report if anyone is hurt.
If you can count the events one by one, “incident” is almost always the right word.
What does “incidence” mean?
Incidence means how often something occurs, in other words its rate or extent. It is a measure, not an event, and it is usually followed by “of.”
- The incidence of flu rises in winter.
- Researchers studied the incidence of burnout among nurses.
- The incidence of crime has fallen in the district.
Notice that in each sentence you could replace “incidence” with “rate” or “frequency.” That is the best quick check.
Is “incidences” a real word?
Yes, “incidences” is a real word, but it is rare. It is the plural of “incidence,” and it is used when you compare separate rates, such as “Incidences of the illness differ by region,” meaning the rates differ in different places.
The problem is that many writers use “incidences” when they mean separate events. If you are counting events, write incidents or instances instead. This mix-up is the main reason people search for the difference between incidences and incidents.
What about incidence vs prevalence?
In health and statistics, incidence and prevalence measure different things. Incidence counts new cases over a period of time, while prevalence counts all existing cases at a given moment.
- The incidence of the flu last winter describes how many people newly caught it.
- The prevalence of diabetes describes how many people currently have it.
Keeping these two apart is important in reports, studies and news articles.
Incidences vs incidents: which one should you use?
Ask whether you mean an event or a rate. Use incidents for events you can count one by one. Use incidence for how often something happens.
Compare these pairs:
- Police logged three incidents near the station. (Three separate events.)
- The incidence of theft near the station has dropped. (The rate has dropped.)
- Several instances of delay were noted. (A safe alternative when unsure.)
Common mistakes with incidences and incidents
- ✗ Two incidences were reported to the manager.
✓ Two incidents were reported to the manager. - ✗ The incidents of flu rises in winter.
✓ The incidence of flu rises in winter. - ✗ The incident of crime has fallen.
✓ The incidence of crime has fallen. - ✗ We logged every incidence of theft last week.
✓ We logged every incident of theft last week. - ✗ Please fill out an incidence report.
✓ Please fill out an incident report.
How can you remember which one to use?
Think “event” versus “rate.” Here are three memory tricks:
- The “ent” link: Incident contains “ent,” just like event. An incident is an event.
- The swap test: If you can replace the word with “rate” or “frequency,” write incidence. If “event” fits, write incident.
- The safe fallback: When unsure, use “instances” or “cases” for countable examples.
FAQ: Incidences vs Incidents
Is it ‘incidences’ or ‘incidents’?
Use ‘incidents’ for individual events. ‘Incidences’ is a rare plural of ‘incidence’ and is used only when comparing separate rates of occurrence.
What is the difference between incidence and incident?
An incident is a single event. Incidence is how often something occurs, such as its rate or frequency.
Is ‘incidences’ a word?
Yes. It is the plural of ‘incidence’, but it is uncommon and is often used by mistake when ‘incidents’ is meant.
What is the difference between incidence and prevalence?
Incidence counts new cases over a period of time. Prevalence counts all existing cases at a given moment.
Is it ‘incident report’ or ‘incidence report’?
It is ‘incident report’. A report describes a specific event, so ‘incident’ is the correct word.
Conclusion
When you’re stuck on incidences vs incidents, remember that an incident is one event and incidence is how often events like it occur. Try the “rate or event” swap test whenever you are unsure. Share this with someone who mixes these up!