What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
happening
Example
What's the happening in town this weekend? [happening: noun]
Example
There's a lot of happening in the stock market right now. [happening: gerund or present participle]
incident
Example
There was an incident at the factory last night. [incident: noun]
Example
He had an incident with his car on the way to work. [incident: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Incident is more commonly used than happening in formal or serious contexts, such as news reports or legal documents. Happening is more commonly used in casual or informal contexts, such as social gatherings or everyday conversations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between happening and incident?
Incident is generally considered more formal than happening. It is often used in official or serious contexts, while happening is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
