As a student, it can be confusing to understand the different rules and patterns of English language, especially when it comes to grammar. One such area that students often find difficult is pluralizing words, especially when it comes to words that end in -ence. In this article, we will focus on teaching students about the plural of incidence, which is a word commonly used in science and medicine.

Firstly, let’s understand what the word incidence means. Incidence refers to the frequency or rate at which a disease, event or situation occurs. For example, we might say that the incidence of the flu is higher during winter months.

Now, taking into consideration that incidence is a word that ends in the suffix -ence, it follows certain rules for pluralizing. Generally, words that end in -ence are made plural by changing the -ence to -ences.

Therefore, the plural form of the word incidence is incidences. For example, we can say that “the incidences of cancer in the United States have been increasing in recent years”.

It is important for teachers to emphasize the correct plural form of incidence as it is used frequently in science and medical contexts. Moreover, teaching students about pluralizing -ence words will help them to understand other words with similar endings such as evidence, sentence, and competence.

To further reinforce this concept, teachers can provide students with examples of other words that use the suffix -ence and ask them to spell their plural forms. Additionally, similar exercises can be given to ensure that students understand the different rules and patterns of English plurals.

In conclusion, teaching students about the plural of incidence and other -ence words provides them with a crucial foundation in understanding the nuances of English grammar. Through regular practice and exercises, students can internalize these rules and confidently use correct plural forms in their writing and speaking.