incident in which

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "incident in which" is correct and usable in written English.
For example, you could use it to introduce the details of an event: "Last week, there was an incident in which a group of young men vandalized the local park."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Recounts an incident in which Violet fell into the water as a young child.

Cornell University

Oberoi recalled an incident in which "this woman came and started honking.

The Washington Post

Details from the Thursday night incident, in which the Arabiya journalists were killed, remained hazy.

The New York Times

Rooney was booked for the seventh-minute incident in which he lashed out at Mutch.

The Guardian - Sport

The incident in which she pooed in a boyfriend's cornflakes because he had annoyed her?

The Guardian - Music

Another judge told of an incident in which a judgment was secretly taped.

The Guardian

Torre was reminded about another uniform incident in which he was involved.

The New York Times

The incident in which Scott died, in stark contrast, spiralled from a routine traffic stop.

The Guardian

I don't think there is a single incident in which we've acted in an abusive manner.

The New York Times

He also admitted to one reported incident in which he followed a woman through the streets.

The New York Times

They declined to elaborate on the incident in which the negligent actions took place.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a series of related events, using "incident in which" can help to transition between different parts of the narrative or explain a specific aspect of it.

Common error

Avoid using "incident in which" when a simpler construction would suffice. For example, instead of "the incident in which the dog barked", consider "the dog-barking incident".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "incident in which" functions as a relative clause, specifically an adjective clause, providing additional information about the noun "incident". It introduces details about the event, clarifying its context or nature. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "incident in which" functions as a relative clause to provide context and details to an event. Grammatically correct and widely used, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is prevalent in news, academic, and formal writing. While versatile, avoid overuse in place of simpler alternatives. Remember that this phrase is suitable for neutral to formal registers and can be replaced by alternative phrases like "case where" or "situation in which" to provide different stylistic nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occurrence in which

Replaces "incident" with the more formal "occurrence", maintaining a similar meaning.

situation in which

Substitutes "incident" with "situation", broadening the scope to any set of circumstances.

case where

Replaces "incident" with "case", slightly altering the focus from the event itself to the situation.

instance where

Substitutes "incident" with "instance", emphasizing a particular example or occurrence.

event where

Changes "incident in which" to "event where", focusing on the occurrence rather than its specific nature.

episode in which

Replaces "incident" with "episode", framing the event as part of a larger series or narrative.

circumstance under which

Replaces "incident" with "circumstance" and "in which" with "under which", suggesting a more formal or specific condition.

occasion when

Uses "occasion" instead of "incident", highlighting a specific time or event.

time when

Simplifies the phrase to "time when", focusing on the temporal aspect of the event.

the affair where

Using "affair" instead of "incident" gives it a slightly more informal tone.

FAQs

How can I use "incident in which" in a sentence?

The phrase "incident in which" is used to introduce a specific event and provide additional context or details about it. For example: "There was an "incident in which" a car crashed into a lamppost."

What's the difference between "incident in which" and "circumstance in which"?

"Incident" refers to a specific event, while "circumstance" refers to the conditions or factors surrounding an event. Therefore, "incident in which" focuses on the event itself, while "circumstance in which" focuses on the context. You might use a "circumstance in which" to describe a set of conditions that led to an incident.

What can I say instead of "incident in which"?

You can use alternatives like "case where", "situation in which", or "episode in which", depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "an incident where" instead of "an incident in which"?

While "an incident where" might be used in informal contexts, "an incident in which" is generally considered more grammatically correct and suitable for formal writing. However, the distinction is subtle, and its appropriateness depends on the specific context and your audience.