Skip to content
Technology — Science — Academic writing — Medical-conditions — Research paper

Difference Between Incident and Incidence: A Clear Explanation

Clarifying the difference between 'incident' and 'incidence' can be challenging. This blog breaks down the meanings and provides examples to help distinguish between the two terms.

,   and  Administrator
2 min read
Unravel the perplexity of incident vs. incidence: This article delves into the distinction and...
Unravel the perplexity of incident vs. incidence: This article delves into the distinction and provides examples to help clarify the usage of both terms.

Difference Between Incident and Incidence: A Clear Explanation

Freshening Up on Incident vs. Incidence:

Learning to distinguish between incident and incidence is important, as these two terms are often mistaken for each other due to their close resemblance. Here's a breakdown of both terms, complete with examples to help you grasp the proper usage.

Incident: A Specific Event

An incident pertains to a distinct event or occurrence, which may be remarkable or unforeseen. It takes place at a specific moment and location, such as an explosion in a factory, a computer system compromise, or any other unexpected happening. Recording incidents through reports aids analysts in understanding the root cause and preventing similar incidents in the future [3].

Examples:- The car crash on the highway is an incident.- The unauthorized data breach at the company constitutes an incident.

Incidence: The Rate of Occurrence

Incidence refers to the rate or frequency at which something—commonly a disease—manifests in a population within a given timeframe. It measures the proportion of new cases of a disease that arise among individuals who initially did not have the disease. In epidemiology, incidence is a vital measurement to assess the progress of diseases and evaluate the effectiveness of treatment methods [1][2].

Examples:- Flu cases in a community are more common during the winter season compared to summer.- Researchers are studying the incidence of cancer in populations exposed to hazardous environmental factors.

To sum up, an incident is a unique occurrence or accident, whereas incidence is the rate at which something happens, especially when discussing diseases or health-related conditions.

Dig Deeper:

Don't forget, there are plenty more word pairs thatbd can be confusing! To assist you in your research journey, we've provided detailed explanations of additional puzzling word pairs. Give them a read to make your academic life a little less complicated:

  • Into vs. onto
  • Proceed vs. precede
  • Traveling or traveling?
  • Among or between?
  • Among vs. amongst
  • For more, check out this page.

Curious for More:

  1. Active vs. Passive Voice in Research Papers
  2. When and How to Use Quotations in Academic Writing
  3. Understanding the Oxford Comma
  4. Week vs. Weak: The Fine Distinction

incident vs incidence

[1] Epidemiology, definition and examples. (n.d.). Study.com. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://study.com/academy/lesson/epidemiology-definition-examples.html

[2] Incidence, Prevalence and Mortality. (2018, August 11). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dsepd/pdf/incidence-prevalence-mortality.pdf

[3] Incident. (n.d.). Investopedia. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/incident.asp

  • In the realm of academic writing, comparing the incidence rate of medical-conditions among different technological user groups could provide valuable insights.
  • A well-crafted research paper exploring the connections between science, technology, and the occurrence of specific incidents related to medical-conditions could contribute significantly to the field.

Read also:

    Related

    Latest