Word Choice Imply vs. Infer - Proofeds Writing Tips Blog

Word Choice Imply vs. Infer Word Choice: Imply vs. Infer The words imply and infer are often confused. Both are verbs relating to communication, but one refers to the speaker/writer, and the other applies to the listener/reader. In a conversation, for instance, one person could imply something, while the other would need to infer their meaning. This, in fact, is a good way to remember how these terms should be used: A speaker implies, while a listener infers. Read on to learn more. Imply (To Suggest) The verb imply means to suggest something through speech or writing without explicitly stating it. It would be used in a sentence like this: The President implied that he had no intention to introduce the law. Aside from direct communication, imply can also be used when drawing a conclusion that follows from particular situation, as in the sentence: His suitcase implied that he intended to stay the night. The word imply is occasionally also used to mean necessitates or entails, as in the sentence: A vacation to Japan implies air travel. Infer (Derive by Reasoning) The verb infer means reach a conclusion based on the evidence presented. This involves examining clues and making a judgment based on reasoning, rather than on the basis of explicitly stated factual information. For example, if you were to ask someone whether chocolate milkshake is the best flavor, the person youre speaking to could respond by pointing out that there are lots of different flavors of milkshake. Although this wouldnt be an explicit rejection of the superiority of chocolate milkshake, we could infer that the other person disagrees (or at least that they also like other kinds of milkshake) based upon what they have said. What a listener infers is not necessarily what was intended by the speaker. For instance, the listener might interpret what has been said incorrectly. Imply or Infer? Whether you need to use imply or infer in any given situation is all about point of view. The person speaking or writing is the one doing the implying. The person listening or reading is the one doing the inferring. If you would like more guidance regarding academic writing, or to have up to 500 words of your work checked for free, get in touch with the professionals at Proofed!