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“Incase of” or “in case of”: which is correct?

The short answer

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.

Spelling and usage error

Why people get it wrong

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.

Examples with in case of

  • 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.

Quick check

  fire, use the emergency exit.

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