Incident vs Event
As a result of having similar meanings, without knowing the difference between incident and event one cannot use them accurately in English language. The word incident is used as a noun as well as an adjective while the word event is only used as a noun. The origin of the word event is in the late 16th century. According to the Oxford English dictionary, the origin of the word incident is in Late Middle English. Eventless and eventlessness are derivatives of the word event. Moreover, phrases such as in any event, in the event, in that event are used in the English language.
What does Incident mean?
The word incident is used in the sense of ‘happening that was not expected’. Observe the sentences given below:
The incident shook the people present in the park.
I saw the incident from close quarters.
In both the sentences given above, the word incident is used in the sense of ‘a happening that was not expected’. Incident is a noun. Moreover, there are several other words formed by using the word incident. It is interesting to note that the word incident takes the adverbial form in the word incidentally. Plural of the word incident is incidents. The word incident is sometimes followed by the preposition ‘of’ as in the expression ‘the incident of the place’.
What does Event mean?
On the other hand the word, event is used in the sense of ‘a happening that was well planned in advance’. This is the main difference between the two words. Sometimes the word event is used in the sense of ‘probability’ or ‘possibility’ as in the sentence given below.
In the event of his coming late, you can go there.
In this sentence, the person is permitted to go to a place if there is the possibility of his friend coming late. Observe the sentences given below:
The event took place at 5 p.m.
Jam-packed crowd watched the grand event.
In both the sentences given above, the word event is used in the sense of ‘a happening that was well planned in advance’. Event is a noun. Moreover, there are several other words formed by using the word event. It is interesting to note that the word event takes the adverbial form in the word eventually. Plural of the word event is events.
What is the difference between Incident and Event?
• The word incident is used in the sense of ‘happening that was not expected’. On the other hand the word, event is used in the sense of ‘a happening that was well planned in advance’. This is the main difference between the two words.
• Sometimes the word event is used in the sense of ‘probability’ or ‘possibility.’
• It is interesting to note that both the words, incident and event, are used as nouns.
• There are several other words that are formed from these two words, incident and event, separately.
• The word incident takes the adverbial form in the word incidentally and the word ‘event’ takes the adverbial form in the word eventually.
• The plural forms of both the words incident and event are incidents and events respectively.
• The word incident is sometimes followed by the preposition ‘of.’
These are the differences between the two words, incident and event.
Images Courtesy:
- Multi Sports Event by Ricardo Stuckert/PR (CC BY 3.0 BR)
