What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
incur
Example
He incurred a lot of debt after buying a new car. [incur: verb]
Example
The company incurred significant losses due to the pandemic. [incurred: past tense]
Example
If you break the rules, you will incur a fine. [incur: verb]
sustain
Example
We need to sustain our efforts to reduce carbon emissions. [sustain: verb]
Example
The athlete sustained a serious injury during the game. [sustained: past tense]
Example
The organization provides sustainable solutions for communities in need. [sustainable: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Sustain is more commonly used than incur in everyday language. Sustain is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while incur is less common and often used in specific financial or penalty contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between incur and sustain?
Both incur and sustain can be used in formal and informal contexts, but incur may be more formal due to its association with financial or legal language.
