What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
incidence
Example
The incidence of COVID-19 cases has increased in the past week. [incidence: noun]
Example
The incidence of car accidents on this road is higher than the national average. [incidence: noun]
prevalence
Example
The prevalence of diabetes in this community is high. [prevalence: noun]
Example
The prevalence of smoking among teenagers has decreased in recent years. [prevalence: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Prevalence is more commonly used than incidence in everyday language and in medical literature. Prevalence is a broader concept that provides a snapshot of the total number of cases of a disease or condition in a population, while incidence focuses on the number of new cases over a specific period.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between incidence and prevalence?
Both incidence and prevalence are formal terms used in medical and scientific contexts. However, prevalence is more versatile and can be used in various fields, such as social sciences and economics, to describe the frequency or extent of a particular trait or behavior in a population.
