Insight or Incite?

by Craig Shrives

What Is the Difference between "Insight" and "Incite"?

"Insight" and "incite" are easy to confuse because they sound identical (i.e., they are perfect homonyms). However, their meanings are very different.
  • "Insight" means "an understanding (due to insider knowledge or analysis)." For example:
    • Your work provided a useful insight into how our competitors think. correct tick
  • "Incite" means "to stimulate action." For example:
    • I am not trying to incite an argument. correct tick
insight or incite?

More about "Insight" and "Incite"

The words "insight" and "incite" sound identical (i.e., they are a type of homonym called "homophones"). They are both common words.

Insight

The noun "insight" means "an understanding of something." It carries the connotation of a clear understanding with an insider's perspective.

Example sentences with "insight":
  • The film offers a rare insight into the sharks' life cycle. correct tick
  • She has a good insight into the company's strategy. correct tick

Incite

The verb "to incite" means "to stimulate action," "to rouse," or "to stir up."

Example sentences with "incite":
  • A 29-year-old man from Dover was arrested for trying to incite a riot. correct tick
  • The event is seeking to incite enthusiasm in young people. correct tick

You Cannot "Have Incite"

You cannot "have incite." The word "incite" is only ever a verb. Like all verbs, it has various forms, e.g., inciting, incited, incites.
  • We have good incite into the situation. wrong cross
You can, however, "have insight" because "insight" is a noun. It has two forms: insight and insights (plural).
  • We have good insight into the situation. correct tick

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See Also

adverse or averse? affect or effect? appraise or apprise? avenge or revenge? bare or bear? complement or compliment? dependant or dependent? discreet or discrete? disinterested or uninterested? e.g. or i.e.? envy or jealousy? imply or infer? its or it's? material or materiel? poisonous or venomous? practice or practise? principal or principle? tenant or tenet? who's or whose? How to improve your English spelling List of easily confused words