incidence

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'incidence' is correct and is commonly used in written English.
It is used to refer to the occurrence of a particular event or phenomenon, typically one with a statistical rate or measurable frequency. For example: The incidence of flu in the population has recently increased.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This might not be a problem if it were a drug for TB, malaria or AIDS – but critics of the HPV donation asked why cervical cancer received such a comprehensive effort in Rwanda – reaching 95% for 11-year-old girls when disease incidence lags well behind other vaccine-preventable diseases in the developing world (read the Rwandan health minister's persuasive rebuttal).

The Guardian

In one woman's case, an FFT doctor documented 74 scars, 68 attributable to torture and 56 attributable to a specific incidence of gang rape.

The Guardian

Previous research, based on marks on the mummies' bones left by TB infection, found that incidence of the disease in Vac surged from about 1760.

The Guardian

It has also been used successfully to address a high incidence of urinary tract infections (UTI) in their locality.

The Guardian

He added new powers and responsibility handed to the Bank by George Osborne should help to reduce incidence of financial crises.

The Guardian - Business

Also on the agenda are Spies Out of Our Lives, looking at the increasing incidence of surveillance and eavesdropping, and the We Can't Breathe campaign, raising concerns about deaths at the hands of police and security staff.

The Guardian

Joyce also rejected the idea that climate change had an impact on the incidence of drought conditions in Australia, as the government announced a $333mn "top up" package of drought assistance for farmers and rural communities.

The Guardian

Asda was followed by the Co-op (73%), and then Morrison's, Sainsbury's and Waitrose, all on 69%, with Marks & Spencer showing an incidence of 67% and Tesco the best at 64%. "We take campylobacter seriously and it goes without saying that we're disappointed with these findings," said an Asda spokesperson.

The Guardian - Business

In El Salvador, 76% of male political prisoners surveyed in the 1980s described at least one incidence of sexual torture.

The Guardian

Right across the country, but particularly in inner cities, heart disease is a big killer, but it is largely preventable.' The Government hopes the measures will prove popular with its grassroots supporters, since the incidence of heart disease is far higher in Labour strongholds.

The Guardian

There is broad agreement that the service needs to move away from its traditional models of care in response to the changing health needs of a 21st century population, with its high incidence of long-term and age-related conditions.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the "incidence" of a disease, specify the population and time period. For example, "the incidence of flu was 20 cases per 1000 people per year".

Common error

Don't confuse "incidence", which refers to the rate of new cases, with "prevalence", which refers to the total number of existing cases in a population at a given time.

Linguistic Context

The word "incidence" functions primarily as a noun. It denotes the rate or frequency at which something occurs, often used in statistical or medical contexts as seen in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

32%

Science

30%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "incidence" is a frequently used noun that denotes the rate at which something occurs, particularly in statistical and medical contexts. As shown by Ludwig, the word is considered grammatically correct and features prominently in news, business, and scientific publications. While "prevalence" is a common point of confusion, remembering that "incidence" refers to new cases is key. Alternatives like "frequency of occurrence" can offer increased clarity, but "incidence" provides concision. Considering its widespread use and varied contexts, mastering its application is essential for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

frequency of occurrence

Replaces "incidence" with a more descriptive phrase highlighting both frequency and occurrence.

rate of occurence

Uses "rate" to quantify how often something occurs, similar to the statistical sense of "incidence".

extent of occurence

Focuses on the scope or range of something happening, rather than just its frequency.

degree of occurence

Emphasizes the level or intensity at which something happens.

prevalence

Indicates how widespread something is at a particular time, often used in medical contexts.

frequency

A more general term indicating how often something happens.

rate

A broader term that indicates a quantity or measure, often over time

occurrence

A general term for something that happens

impact

Describes the effect or influence of something

event

A specific instance of something happening.

FAQs

How is "incidence" used in medical contexts?

In medicine, "incidence" refers to the rate at which new cases of a disease or condition occur in a population over a specified period. It's often expressed as cases per a certain number of people (e.g., 100,000) per year.

What is the difference between "incidence" and "prevalence"?

"Incidence" measures the rate of new cases of a condition over a period, while "prevalence" measures the total number of existing cases at a specific time. Think of incidence as new infections, and prevalence as total infections.

What factors can affect the "incidence" of a disease?

Factors influencing "incidence" include environmental conditions, public health interventions (like vaccination programs), changes in diagnostic practices, and population demographics.

What are some alternatives to using the word "incidence"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "frequency of occurrence", "rate of occurrence", or "extent of occurrence". These options may provide greater clarity in certain situations.