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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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a incidence of

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a incidence of" is not correct in English.
The correct form is "an incidence of." You can use it when referring to a specific occurrence or event, particularly in contexts related to statistics or reports of events. Example: "The report highlighted an incidence of fraud that occurred last year."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

(a) Incidence of drastic mutations in major gene families.

Science & Research

Nature

Results: One hundred and five cases were diagnosed as severe and moderate CHD with a incidence of 1.9%.

To test whether there is unexplained variation in a) incidence of diagnosed bacterial food poisoning; and b) notification of bacterial food poisoning between general practices.

Fig. 5 a Incidence of acute renal failure (ARF) and necessity of replacement renal therapy (RRT) in both groups.

Interestingly, the ATM−/− Gadd45a−/− mice showed higher a incidence of lymphoma and leukemia, as well as an increased rate of metastasis compared to ATM−/− mice.

a Incidence of p-polarised laser (k indicates the wave vector of the excitation laser) with electric field (E) parallel to the tip-axis at a metal or metal-coated tip causes the EM field intensity to be enhanced and confined at the tip-apex.

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Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

"This is not a 'row'; it is not a 'tiff': it is an incidence of domestic violence," she said.

"This is not a 'row', it is not a 'tiff', it is an incidence of domestic violence.

News & Media

The Guardian

TNDM is a rare entity with an incidence of ∼1 200,000 (34– 36).

In Liberia, a country that never before had an incidence of Ebola, we were utterly ill-equipped and unprepared.

Genetics alone has not caused autism to increase from an incidence of 1 10,000 to 1 91 in a twenty year period.

News & Media

Huffington Post
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the frequency of events or cases, consider using more precise terms like "incidence rate" or "prevalence" for clarity, especially in scientific or medical contexts.

Common error

Avoid using the indefinite article "a" before words that begin with a vowel sound; instead, use "an". For example, it should be "an incidence", not "a incidence".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

86%

Authority and reliability

4.1/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a incidence of" functions as a noun phrase intended to introduce a specific occurrence or frequency of an event. Ludwig AI indicates this usage is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "an incidence of".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

45%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a incidence of" appears in various sources, it is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "an incidence of". This phrase is used to describe the frequency or occurrence of events, particularly in scientific and news contexts. Ludwig AI's analysis highlights this grammatical point, emphasizing the importance of using the correct article to maintain clarity and accuracy in writing. Always remember to use "an" before "incidence" due to its vowel sound. Given the availability of grammatically sound alternatives such as "rate of occurrence" and "frequency of cases", prioritizing accuracy will significantly strengthen your writing.

FAQs

How do I correctly use "an incidence of" in a sentence?

Use "an incidence of" when you are referring to a particular occurrence or frequency of something. For example, "There was "an incidence of" food poisoning at the event" is better than using "a".

What's the difference between "incidence" and "prevalence"?

"Incidence" refers to the rate of new cases of a condition, while "prevalence" refers to the total number of cases, both new and old, at a specific time. Using them correctly ensures accuracy in statistical and epidemiological contexts.

Is it ever correct to say "a incidence of"?

No, it is not correct. The word "incidence" begins with a vowel sound, so it always requires the article "an". Using "a" is a grammatical error.

What are some alternatives to ""an incidence of"" in formal writing?

In formal writing, you can use alternatives such as "rate of occurrence", "frequency of cases", or "number of occurrences" to convey similar meanings while maintaining precision and clarity.

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Authority and reliability

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Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: