What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
incentive
Example
The company offered a bonus as an incentive for employees to meet their sales targets. [incentive: noun]
Example
The promise of a promotion was a strong incentive for him to work harder. [incentive: modifier]
encouragement
Example
Her parents gave her encouragement to pursue her dreams. [encouragement: noun]
Example
He felt encouraged by his coach's positive feedback after the game. [encouraged: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Encouragement is more commonly used than incentive in everyday language. Encouragement is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while incentive is less common and often used in specific situations, such as business or economics.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between incentive and encouragement?
Both incentive and encouragement can be used in formal and informal contexts, but incentive may be more commonly used in professional or academic settings.
