Incidence or incident?

Question

Both 'incidence' and 'incident' can mean an event, usually unpleasant one. Could you please give examples where you can use either of them interchangeably?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

BulbulTadaBoth 'incidence' and 'incident' can mean an event

I don't think so.

Here's what Merriam-Webster has to say about it.

The words incident, incidence, and instance may seem similar (and, in fact, incident and incidence are closely related), but they are not used identically. In current use, incidence usually means "rate of occurrence" and is often qualified in some way ("a high incidence of diabetes"). Incident usually refers to a particular event, often something unusual or unpleasant ("many such incidents go unreported"). Instance suggests a particular occurrence that is offered as an example ("another instance of bureaucratic bumbling"); it can also be synonymous with case ("many instances in which the wrong form was submitted"). The plural incidences sometimes occurs in such contexts as "several recent incidences of crime," but this use is often criticized as incorrect.

CJ

Clive · Answer

An incident refers to an event.

But incidence usually refers to the rate of occurrence of something. eg The incidence of lung cancer in non-smokers is low.

Clive

Incidence or incident?

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