diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index b68adbc086..b133884c35 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 # tern 0.8.3.9000
 
+### Miscellaneous
+* Began deprecation of `time_unit_input` and `time_unit_output` arguments and replaced them with the `input_time_unit` and `n_pt_years_rate`, respectively, in `control_incidence_rate`.
+
+# tern 0.8.3
+
 ### Enhancements
 * Added explicit zero counts to `g_km` plot "at risk" annotation tables.
 * Added a flag for total level split in `analyze_patients_exposure_in_cols`.
@@ -18,7 +23,7 @@
 * Remove examples for unexported functions.
 * Export functions `has_count_in_cols`, `has_counts_difference`, `combine_counts`, `h_tab_rsp_one_biomarker`, `arrange_grobs`, `a_count_patients_sum_exposure`, `a_coxreg`, `groups_list_to_df`, `forest_viewport`.
 * Updated `README` to include installation instructions for CRAN.
-* Began deprecation of `indent_mod` argument and replace it with the `.indent_mods` argument in `summarize_num_patients` and `analyze_num_patients`.
+* Began deprecation of `indent_mod` argument and replaced it with the `.indent_mods` argument in `summarize_num_patients` and `analyze_num_patients`.
 
 # tern 0.8.2
 
diff --git a/R/control_incidence_rate.R b/R/control_incidence_rate.R
index 0ac949cf92..a7d737c0cd 100644
--- a/R/control_incidence_rate.R
+++ b/R/control_incidence_rate.R
@@ -6,11 +6,13 @@
 #' internally to specify details in `s_incidence_rate()`.
 #'
 #' @inheritParams argument_convention
-#' @param time_unit_input (`string`)\cr `day`, `month`, or `year` (default)
-#'   indicating time unit for data input.
-#' @param time_unit_output (`numeric`)\cr time unit for desired output (in person-years).
 #' @param conf_type (`string`)\cr `normal` (default), `normal_log`, `exact`, or `byar`
 #'   for confidence interval type.
+#' @param input_time_unit (`string`)\cr `day`, `week`, `month`, or `year` (default)
+#'   indicating time unit for data input.
+#' @param num_pt_year (`numeric`)\cr number of patient-years to use when calculating AE rate.
+#' @param time_unit_input `r lifecycle::badge("deprecated")` Please use the `input_time_unit` argument instead.
+#' @param time_unit_output `r lifecycle::badge("deprecated")` Please use the `num_pt_year` argument instead.
 #'
 #' @return A list of components with the same names as the arguments.
 #'
@@ -22,17 +24,32 @@
 #' @export
 control_incidence_rate <- function(conf_level = 0.95,
                                    conf_type = c("normal", "normal_log", "exact", "byar"),
-                                   time_unit_input = c("year", "day", "week", "month"),
-                                   time_unit_output = 1) {
+                                   input_time_unit = c("year", "day", "week", "month"),
+                                   num_pt_year = 100,
+                                   time_unit_input = lifecycle::deprecated(),
+                                   time_unit_output = lifecycle::deprecated()) {
+  if (lifecycle::is_present(time_unit_input)) {
+    lifecycle::deprecate_warn(
+      "0.8.3", "control_incidence_rate(time_unit_input)", "control_incidence_rate(input_time_unit)"
+    )
+    input_time_unit <- time_unit_input
+  }
+  if (lifecycle::is_present(time_unit_output)) {
+    lifecycle::deprecate_warn(
+      "0.8.3", "control_incidence_rate(time_unit_output)", "control_incidence_rate(num_pt_year)"
+    )
+    num_pt_year <- time_unit_output
+  }
+
   conf_type <- match.arg(conf_type)
-  time_unit_input <- match.arg(time_unit_input)
-  checkmate::assert_number(time_unit_output)
+  input_time_unit <- match.arg(input_time_unit)
+  checkmate::assert_number(num_pt_year)
   assert_proportion_value(conf_level)
 
   list(
     conf_level = conf_level,
     conf_type = conf_type,
-    time_unit_input = time_unit_input,
-    time_unit_output = time_unit_output
+    input_time_unit = input_time_unit,
+    num_pt_year = num_pt_year
   )
 }
diff --git a/R/incidence_rate.R b/R/incidence_rate.R
index 69d2fe3dd2..2f18955570 100644
--- a/R/incidence_rate.R
+++ b/R/incidence_rate.R
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@
 #'   * `conf_level` (`proportion`)\cr confidence level for the estimated incidence rate.
 #'   * `conf_type` (`string`)\cr `normal` (default), `normal_log`, `exact`, or `byar`
 #'     for confidence interval type.
-#'   * `time_unit_input` (`string`)\cr `day`, `week`, `month`, or `year` (default)
+#'   * `input_time_unit` (`string`)\cr `day`, `week`, `month`, or `year` (default)
 #'     indicating time unit for data input.
-#'   * `time_unit_output` (`numeric`)\cr time unit for desired output (in person-years).
+#'   * `num_pt_year` (`numeric`)\cr time unit for desired output (in person-years).
 #' @param person_years (`numeric`)\cr total person-years at risk.
 #' @param alpha (`numeric`)\cr two-sided alpha-level for confidence interval.
 #' @param n_events (`integer`)\cr number of events observed.
@@ -68,14 +68,14 @@ s_incidence_rate <- function(df,
     checkmate::assert_integer(df[[n_events]], any.missing = FALSE)
   }
 
-  time_unit_input <- control$time_unit_input
-  time_unit_output <- control$time_unit_output
+  input_time_unit <- control$input_time_unit
+  num_pt_year <- control$num_pt_year
   conf_level <- control$conf_level
   person_years <- sum(df[[.var]], na.rm = TRUE) * (
-    1 * (time_unit_input == "year") +
-      1 / 12 * (time_unit_input == "month") +
-      1 / 52.14 * (time_unit_input == "week") +
-      1 / 365.24 * (time_unit_input == "day")
+    1 * (input_time_unit == "year") +
+      1 / 12 * (input_time_unit == "month") +
+      1 / 52.14 * (input_time_unit == "week") +
+      1 / 365.24 * (input_time_unit == "day")
   )
   n_events <- sum(df[[n_events]], na.rm = TRUE)
 
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ s_incidence_rate <- function(df,
   list(
     person_years = formatters::with_label(person_years, "Total patient-years at risk"),
     n_events = formatters::with_label(n_events, "Number of adverse events observed"),
-    rate = formatters::with_label(result$rate, paste("AE rate per", time_unit_output, "patient-years")),
+    rate = formatters::with_label(result$rate, paste("AE rate per", num_pt_year, "patient-years")),
     rate_ci = formatters::with_label(result$rate_ci, f_conf_level(conf_level))
   )
 }
@@ -126,8 +126,8 @@ a_incidence_rate <- make_afun(
 #'     vars = "AVAL",
 #'     n_events = "n_events",
 #'     control = control_incidence_rate(
-#'       time_unit_input = "month",
-#'       time_unit_output = 100
+#'       input_time_unit = "month",
+#'       num_pt_year = 100
 #'     )
 #'   ) %>%
 #'   build_table(df)
@@ -169,9 +169,9 @@ estimate_incidence_rate <- function(lyt,
 #'   * `conf_level`: (`proportion`)\cr confidence level for the estimated incidence rate.
 #'   * `conf_type`: (`string`)\cr `normal` (default), `normal_log`, `exact`, or `byar`
 #'     for confidence interval type.
-#'   * `time_unit_input`: (`string`)\cr `day`, `week`, `month`, or `year` (default)
+#'   * `input_time_unit`: (`string`)\cr `day`, `week`, `month`, or `year` (default)
 #'     indicating time unit for data input.
-#'   * `time_unit_output`: (`numeric`)\cr time unit for desired output (in person-years).
+#'   * `num_pt_year`: (`numeric`)\cr time unit for desired output (in person-years).
 #' @param person_years (`numeric`)\cr total person-years at risk.
 #' @param alpha (`numeric`)\cr two-sided alpha-level for confidence interval.
 #' @param n_events (`integer`)\cr number of events observed.
@@ -290,9 +290,9 @@ h_incidence_rate <- function(person_years,
     byar = h_incidence_rate_byar(person_years, n_events, alpha)
   )
 
-  time_unit_output <- control$time_unit_output
+  num_pt_year <- control$num_pt_year
   list(
-    rate = est$rate * time_unit_output,
-    rate_ci = est$rate_ci * time_unit_output
+    rate = est$rate * num_pt_year,
+    rate_ci = est$rate_ci * num_pt_year
   )
 }
diff --git a/man/control_incidence_rate.Rd b/man/control_incidence_rate.Rd
index 62afac7e6a..06fdb4d0d7 100644
--- a/man/control_incidence_rate.Rd
+++ b/man/control_incidence_rate.Rd
@@ -7,8 +7,10 @@
 control_incidence_rate(
   conf_level = 0.95,
   conf_type = c("normal", "normal_log", "exact", "byar"),
-  time_unit_input = c("year", "day", "week", "month"),
-  time_unit_output = 1
+  input_time_unit = c("year", "day", "week", "month"),
+  num_pt_year = 100,
+  time_unit_input = lifecycle::deprecated(),
+  time_unit_output = lifecycle::deprecated()
 )
 }
 \arguments{
@@ -17,10 +19,14 @@ control_incidence_rate(
 \item{conf_type}{(\code{string})\cr \code{normal} (default), \code{normal_log}, \code{exact}, or \code{byar}
 for confidence interval type.}
 
-\item{time_unit_input}{(\code{string})\cr \code{day}, \code{month}, or \code{year} (default)
+\item{input_time_unit}{(\code{string})\cr \code{day}, \code{week}, \code{month}, or \code{year} (default)
 indicating time unit for data input.}
 
-\item{time_unit_output}{(\code{numeric})\cr time unit for desired output (in person-years).}
+\item{num_pt_year}{(\code{numeric})\cr number of patient-years to use when calculating AE rate.}
+
+\item{time_unit_input}{\ifelse{html}{\href{https://lifecycle.r-lib.org/articles/stages.html#deprecated}{\figure{lifecycle-deprecated.svg}{options: alt='[Deprecated]'}}}{\strong{[Deprecated]}} Please use the \code{input_time_unit} argument instead.}
+
+\item{time_unit_output}{\ifelse{html}{\href{https://lifecycle.r-lib.org/articles/stages.html#deprecated}{\figure{lifecycle-deprecated.svg}{options: alt='[Deprecated]'}}}{\strong{[Deprecated]}} Please use the \code{num_pt_year} argument instead.}
 }
 \value{
 A list of components with the same names as the arguments.
diff --git a/man/h_incidence_rate.Rd b/man/h_incidence_rate.Rd
index 1b385b5374..b51681e00c 100644
--- a/man/h_incidence_rate.Rd
+++ b/man/h_incidence_rate.Rd
@@ -31,9 +31,9 @@ the helper function \code{\link[=control_incidence_rate]{control_incidence_rate(
 \item \code{conf_level}: (\code{proportion})\cr confidence level for the estimated incidence rate.
 \item \code{conf_type}: (\code{string})\cr \code{normal} (default), \code{normal_log}, \code{exact}, or \code{byar}
 for confidence interval type.
-\item \code{time_unit_input}: (\code{string})\cr \code{day}, \code{week}, \code{month}, or \code{year} (default)
+\item \code{input_time_unit}: (\code{string})\cr \code{day}, \code{week}, \code{month}, or \code{year} (default)
 indicating time unit for data input.
-\item \code{time_unit_output}: (\code{numeric})\cr time unit for desired output (in person-years).
+\item \code{num_pt_year}: (\code{numeric})\cr time unit for desired output (in person-years).
 }}
 }
 \value{
diff --git a/man/incidence_rate.Rd b/man/incidence_rate.Rd
index c3c6160de7..0c5dd5d0ce 100644
--- a/man/incidence_rate.Rd
+++ b/man/incidence_rate.Rd
@@ -51,9 +51,9 @@ the helper function \code{\link[=control_incidence_rate]{control_incidence_rate(
 \item \code{conf_level} (\code{proportion})\cr confidence level for the estimated incidence rate.
 \item \code{conf_type} (\code{string})\cr \code{normal} (default), \code{normal_log}, \code{exact}, or \code{byar}
 for confidence interval type.
-\item \code{time_unit_input} (\code{string})\cr \code{day}, \code{week}, \code{month}, or \code{year} (default)
+\item \code{input_time_unit} (\code{string})\cr \code{day}, \code{week}, \code{month}, or \code{year} (default)
 indicating time unit for data input.
-\item \code{time_unit_output} (\code{numeric})\cr time unit for desired output (in person-years).
+\item \code{num_pt_year} (\code{numeric})\cr time unit for desired output (in person-years).
 }}
 
 \item{lyt}{(\code{layout})\cr input layout where analyses will be added to.}
@@ -138,8 +138,8 @@ basic_table() \%>\%
     vars = "AVAL",
     n_events = "n_events",
     control = control_incidence_rate(
-      time_unit_input = "month",
-      time_unit_output = 100
+      input_time_unit = "month",
+      num_pt_year = 100
     )
   ) \%>\%
   build_table(df)
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-estimate_incidence_rate.R b/tests/testthat/test-estimate_incidence_rate.R
index 2576a03181..f83173e1a2 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-estimate_incidence_rate.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-estimate_incidence_rate.R
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ testthat::test_that("control_incidence_rate works with customized parameters", {
   result <- control_incidence_rate(
     conf_level = 0.9,
     conf_type = "exact",
-    time_unit_input = "month",
-    time_unit_output = 100
+    input_time_unit = "month",
+    num_pt_year = 100
   )
 
   res <- testthat::expect_silent(result)
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ testthat::test_that("control_incidence_rate works with customized parameters", {
 testthat::test_that("control_incidence_rate fails with wrong input", {
   testthat::expect_error(control_incidence_rate(conf_level = 1.1))
   testthat::expect_error(control_incidence_rate(conf_type = "wald"))
-  testthat::expect_error(control_incidence_rate(time_unit_input = "decade"))
-  testthat::expect_error(control_incidence_rate(time_unit_output = "one"))
+  testthat::expect_error(control_incidence_rate(input_time_unit = "decade"))
+  testthat::expect_error(control_incidence_rate(num_pt_year = "one"))
 })
 
 testthat::test_that("h_incidence_rate_normal works as expected with healthy input", {
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ testthat::test_that("h_incidence_rate works as expected with healthy input", {
   result <- h_incidence_rate(
     200,
     2,
-    control_incidence_rate(conf_level = 0.9, conf_type = "normal_log", time_unit_output = 100)
+    control_incidence_rate(conf_level = 0.9, conf_type = "normal_log", num_pt_year = 100)
   )
 
   res <- testthat::expect_silent(result)
@@ -72,8 +72,8 @@ testthat::test_that("s_incidence_rate works as expected with healthy input", {
     control = control_incidence_rate(
       conf_level = 0.9,
       conf_type = "normal_log",
-      time_unit_input = "month",
-      time_unit_output = 100
+      input_time_unit = "month",
+      num_pt_year = 100
     )
   )
 
@@ -100,8 +100,8 @@ testthat::test_that("estimate_incidence_rate works as expected with healthy inpu
       control = control_incidence_rate(
         conf_level = 0.9,
         conf_type = "normal_log",
-        time_unit_input = "month",
-        time_unit_output = 100
+        input_time_unit = "month",
+        num_pt_year = 100
       )
     ) %>%
     build_table(df)