What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
incur
Example
If you continue to speed, you will incur a fine. [incur: verb]
Example
The company incurred significant losses due to the pandemic. [incurred: past tense]
Example
We will incur additional costs if we decide to upgrade our services. [incur: present tense]
suffer
Example
She suffered from a headache all day. [suffered: past tense]
Example
The country suffered from a severe drought, leading to crop failure. [suffered: past tense]
Example
He suffers from a chronic back pain. [suffers: present tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Suffer is more commonly used than incur in everyday language. Suffer is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while incur is less common and is typically used in formal or technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between incur and suffer?
Incur is more formal than suffer. It is often used in legal or financial contexts, while suffer is more casual and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
