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In case of linguistic emergency: why "incase of" needs a space lift!

Reviewed and edited by Lloyd Cooper 06/10/2024, 06:13
English.me team member

What kind of error is it?

Incase of or in case of. What's correct?

Spelling and usage error

Why do people make this mistake?

People often make this error due to phonetic blending, where the pronunciation of "in case of" can sound like "incase of" when spoken quickly. Additionally, the influence of compound words in English might lead to the assumption that "incase" is a valid contraction.

What is correct?

The correct phrase is "in case of", which should be written as two separate words. It is used to indicate a situation where a specific action should be taken if a particular event occurs.

Examples of correct usage

  • In case of fire, use the emergency exit.
  • Keep a flashlight handy in case of a power outage.
  • In case of emergency, call 911 immediately.

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