Words / C1

ingkr-uh-MENTL/ˌɪŋkrəˈmentl/

Incremental means happening in small regular additions: incremental change, incremental cost. Gradual is everyday and wider; a drip of unpaid overtime is still a rota finding, not “flexibility”.

Meaning

Happening in a series of small, regular additions.

Examples

• “Budget in incremental lines on the methods page; a crest price is not a count.”
• “Incremental unpaid hours on the night rota are a finding, not “flexibility”.”
• “Gradual is everyday. Stepwise is the close twin. Flexibility is a slogan. A timesheet is a file. Pay the hours, or name them as TOIL; do not baptise the drip as culture.”

Good to know

In small added steps. Everyday: gradual. “Flexibility” ≠ unpaid hours.

Near in meaning

gradual, stepwise

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