• 3-minute read
• 20th August 2026

Word Choice: Incidence vs. Incidents

It is easy to confuse “incidence” and “incidents” because they sound similar. Both words relate to the idea that something happens. However, if you mix them up in a report, email, or piece of content can completely change the meaning of your sentence and undermine your credibility. Read on to learn how to use these words correctly every time.

Understand “Incidence” (Rate of Occurrence Over Time)

“Incidence” is a noun that refers to the frequency with which something happens. Writers normally use it in connection with events that are unusual or unwelcome:

Italy has a low incidence of heart disease.

Researchers tracked the incidence of the disease across different age groups.

The incidence of workplace injuries has declined over the past year.

In professional and research contexts, “incidence” often appears in data analysis, risk assessments, and compliance reporting. You might describe the incidence of workplace injuries in a safety audit, for example, or the incidence of customer complaints in a quarterly review.

Less commonly, the word “incidence” refers to the striking of light on a surface:

In class, we are learning how to measure the angle of incidence.

This definition is primarily used in physics, particularly in optics.

Understand “Incidents” (Plural of Incident)

The word “incident” means “a single instance of something happening.” The plural form “incidents” simply means “more than one incident”:

Five incidents of bullying were reported last week.

I will fully investigate each of the reported incidents.

We hope there will be no further incidents of theft.

As with “incidence,” the word “incident” often refers to undesirable occurrences (e.g., crimes, accidents, security breaches). In a business setting, you are likely to encounter “incidents” in incident reports, HR documentation, and IT security logs. You might write about incidents of data loss or incidents of policy violations. It would be unusual, however, to use “incidents” to refer to purchases of new shoes.

Confusing these two words can change the meaning of a sentence entirely. When you write “the incidence of data breaches,” it refers to the overall rate. When you instead write “the incidents of data breaches,” it refers to specific, countable events. Choosing the wrong word may mislead your reader or obscure your intended message.

Choose Between Incidence and Incidents

When you need to decide which of these words to use, remember:

• Incidence is the frequency with which a (usually negative) event occurs. Use it when you discuss rates, trends, or patterns over time.

• Incidents is the plural of “incident,” meaning multiple specific occurrences. Use it when you refer to countable, individual events.

One way to remind yourself which one to use is that “incidence” has the suffix “-ence,” which also appears in related words like “prevalence” (how common something is) and “recurrence” (a repeated occurrence). The word “incidence” is a singular noun, while “incidents” ends in an “s” like most other English plurals.

If you write about how often something happens in general, reach for “incidence.” If you need to list or count specific events, use “incidents.” This simple test will help you select the right word in any context, from formal reports to internal emails.

Make Every Word Count

Commonly confused words like these can slip past even careful writers. For more guidance on tricky word pairs, explore the resources in Proofed’s Knowledge Hub.

If you want every word in your reports, content, and communications to be precise and accurate, let the experts at Proofed review your work. Submit a free trial document today to see how our proofreading and editing services can help your team deliver error-free writing every time.