incur

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "incur" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that is caused by yourself or someone else as a result of a particular action. For example, "The company incurred significant costs when remodeling its office building."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

FIFA did not incur any costs as a result of South Africa's request because the funds belonged to the LOC.

The Guardian - Sport

The EU executive in Brussels said on Wednesday that moves to reinstate the death penalty could incur curbs on Hungary's EU rights and entitlements.

The Guardian

The latest Chilcot report concludes that while it is feasible to design a legally compliant regime, the use of intercept evidence would not be consistent with previous operational requirements and would incur significant costs and risks for uncertain benefits in terms of increased numbers of successful prosecutions.

The Guardian

According to the law, the agency can fine a violating organisation up to 300,000 roubles (£3,850); a second infringement can incur a fine of up to 500,000 roubles or a suspension of its operations for up to 30 days.

The Guardian

"Psychotic and dangerous, this book encourages parents to lower the burden of overpopulation by having their child deliberately incur a horrifying and frequently fatal disease," found a third.

The Guardian - Books

Violators could incur fines of up to 50,000 rubles (£800) and be blacklisted.

The Guardian

However, the MoD has now acknowledged that it may incur some costs.

The Guardian

For example, if a person's pay went up from £60,000 to £65,000 and they are in a 1/60ths scheme, it would in effect boost the final value of their pension and incur a tax charge of around £2,500.

The Guardian - Money

Failure would incur tough consequences.

The Guardian

Uninsured depositors would probably incur haircuts of the order of 35%, said senior sources involved in the negotiation.

The Economist

Owing nothing to Intel's power-hungry x86 architecture, they incur no royalty fees to Intel.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "incur" when you want to emphasize that something is acquired or brought about as a result of a specific action or decision, often carrying a negative connotation like costs, debts, or penalties.

Common error

Avoid using "incur" passively; it requires an active subject causing the consequence. For instance, instead of saying "costs were incurred", specify who or what caused the costs by saying "the company incurred costs".

Linguistic Context

The verb "incur" primarily functions to indicate that someone or something becomes subject to or responsible for something, often a negative consequence such as a cost, debt, or penalty. Ludwig's examples show it in use in contexts where actions lead to predictable, often undesirable, outcomes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "incur" is a versatile verb used to indicate that someone or something becomes subject to a consequence, commonly a negative one like costs or debts. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent usage, primarily in news, formal business, and scientific contexts. While grammatically straightforward, the word's causative nature means it needs an active subject. Synonyms like "suffer" or "experience" offer alternatives, but "incur" is most appropriate when emphasizing the direct link between action and outcome. Use "incur" to accurately convey how specific decisions or actions lead to predictable, usually undesirable, results.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

become liable for

Specifically refers to legal or financial responsibility.

bring upon oneself

Highlights personal responsibility for causing something negative to happen.

be subject to

Indicates being under the authority or control of something, often implying potential negative consequences.

be exposed to

Implies a risk of experiencing something harmful or unpleasant.

suffer

Refers more broadly to experiencing something unpleasant, not necessarily as a direct result of an action.

sustain

Often used in the context of injuries or losses, indicating a form of enduring something.

encounter

Similar to 'experience', but can also suggest facing something unexpectedly.

invite

Suggests doing something that makes it likely for something (usually negative) to happen.

draw

Suggests attracting something, often undesirable, as a result of certain actions or qualities.

experience

Implies a broader range of encounters, not necessarily negative or as a direct consequence.

FAQs

How can I use "incur" in a sentence?

You can use "incur" to indicate that someone or something has become subject to or liable for something, typically a cost, debt, or penalty. For example: "The project may "incur additional costs" if it runs over schedule."

What's the difference between "incur" and "suffer"?

"Incur" implies that something is brought about as a result of one's actions or decisions, whereas "suffer" suggests enduring something unpleasant, regardless of the cause. For example, you might "incur" a debt by making purchases, but you might "suffer" from an illness.

Are there situations where I shouldn't use "incur"?

Avoid using "incur" when describing events that happen randomly or without a clear cause. For example, it would be incorrect to say someone "incurred" an accident; instead, say they "experienced" or "had" an accident.

What are some synonyms for "incur" that I can use for variety?

Depending on the context, you can use synonyms such as "suffer", "experience", "contract", or "draw". For instance, "The company might "draw criticism" for its new policy."