What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
incoherence
Example
The professor's lecture was full of incoherent rambling. [incoherent: adjective]
Example
Her thoughts were so jumbled that her writing came out incoherent. [incoherent: adjective]
confusion
Example
I'm in confusion about what to do next. [confusion: noun]
Example
The instructions were so confusing that I had to ask for help. [confusing: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Confusion is more commonly used than incoherence in everyday language. Confusion is a versatile word that can be used in a wide range of contexts, while incoherence is less common and tends to be used in more technical or academic settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between incoherence and confusion?
Both incoherence and confusion can be used in formal and informal contexts, but incoherence is more likely to be used in technical or academic writing due to its specificity.
