What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
incompetence
Example
The company suffered financial losses due to the incompetence of its management. [incompetence: noun]
Example
His incompetence in handling the project led to its failure. [incompetence: noun]
ineptitude
Example
Her ineptitude in sports made her the last pick for the team. [ineptitude: noun]
Example
He showed his ineptitude in cooking by burning the dinner. [ineptitude: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Incompetence is more commonly used than ineptitude in professional or work-related contexts. However, ineptitude is more commonly used in casual or everyday situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between incompetence and ineptitude?
Incompetence is more formal than ineptitude due to its association with professional or work-related contexts.