incur a risk

USAGE SUMMARY

"incur a risk" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to put oneself in a situation where potential danger or loss may occur. Example: By investing in a new business venture, you will incur a risk as there is no guarantee of success.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Users of snus, which contains low levels of tobacco-specific nitrosamines, a carcinogen, incur a risk of developing oral cancer no greater than nonsmokers, the journal Tobacco Control reported last year.

The New York Times - Health

Misoprostol use in early pregnancy may incur a risk of uterine rupture in women with previous uterine surgery.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

As the employer of record of our temporary workers we incur a risk of liability for various workplace events, including claims for personal injury, wage and hour requirements, discrimination or harassment.... [S]ome or all of these claims may give rise to litigation including class action litigation...

Huffington Post

In comparison to other EU countries, these two countries maintain very close relations with non EU countries, which could potentially incur a risk for disease introduction.

BMC Veterinary Research

In an era of OPSCC de‐escalation treatments, which are based on a viral etiology, this may incur a risk of undertreating a small proportion of patients falsely considered as HPV+.

Cancer Science

Finally, the policy of performing primary tumour excision with simultaneous SLN biopsy in all patients with a preoperative diagnosis of DCIS may incur a risk of performing axillary biopsy in patients with benign breast lesions, since intraoperative frozen section histology is usually unreliable in patients with small areas of microcalcifications.

BMC Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

As a result, the party finds itself in a terrible bind: it can slow development as a step toward cleaning up the environment, incurring a risk of growing economic discontent, or it can continue its growth-at-all-costs policy, and find itself embroiled in a firestorm of Ningbo-style environmental protests. .

Huffington Post

The cohort sample was self-selected which incurs a risk of self-selection bias.

Family Practice

We relied on the patient's self-report for collection of information on 12-month mental health service use, which incurs a risk of recall bias.

BMJ Open

Other analogues are still sold and widely distributed over the Internet as "legal highs" without apparently incurring a risk of prosecution.

ACS Chemical Neuroscience

However, this procedure requires a large limbal graft from the healthy eye (incurring a risk of causing limbal stem cell deficiency in the healthy eye [ 15]) and is not applicable to bilaterally affected patients [ 16].

BioMed Research International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "incur a risk", clearly specify the type of risk involved. For example, "incur a financial risk" or "incur a health risk".

Common error

While grammatically correct, "incur a risk" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Consider using alternatives like "take a chance" or "risk it" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "incur a risk" functions primarily as a verb phrase followed by a noun phrase, indicating that someone or something becomes subject to a potential danger or negative consequence. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

41%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "incur a risk" is a grammatically correct expression used to describe becoming subject to a potential danger or negative outcome. While considered uncommon, Ludwig's analysis of various sources shows it appears mostly in science and news contexts with a neutral, slightly formal tone. Alternatives such as ""run the risk"" or "take a chance" may be more appropriate in informal settings. As Ludwig AI highlights, "incur a risk" is a valid and useful phrase, particularly when conveying information about potential hazards in a professional or academic context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

run the risk

Emphasizes the possibility of a negative outcome occurring.

face the risk

Highlights the act of confronting a potential danger.

expose oneself to danger

Focuses on the action of placing oneself in a hazardous situation.

invite the possibility of

Suggests that an action makes a specific outcome more probable.

open the door to potential problems

Indicates that an action creates an opportunity for issues to arise.

subject oneself to the chance of

Similar to "expose oneself to danger", but more formal.

be vulnerable to

Emphasizes the state of being susceptible to negative effects.

court disaster

Implies that actions are likely to lead to a negative outcome.

tempt fate

Suggests that an action tests one's luck and could lead to misfortune.

hazard

Indicates a potential source of danger, varying slightly from the original phrase.

FAQs

What does "incur a risk" mean?

"Incur a risk" means to become subject to a potential negative consequence or danger as a result of one's actions or decisions.

How can I use "incur a risk" in a sentence?

You can use "incur a risk" in a sentence like this: "By investing in this startup, you "run the risk" of losing your money."

What are some alternatives to "incur a risk"?

Some alternatives to "incur a risk" include "take a chance", ""run the risk"", or "expose oneself to danger", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "incur a risk" or "take a risk"?

Both "incur a risk" and "take a risk" are correct, but "incur a risk" is more formal. The best choice depends on the context. For example, in a business report, "incur a risk" might be more appropriate, while in casual conversation, "take a risk" would be fine.