What is the difference between "imply" and "infer"?


What is the difference between "imply" and "infer"?

The words "imply" and "infer" are often confused with one another, even by native speakers of English. While they are related in meaning, they have different roles in communication. In this essay, we will examine the meanings of these two words and their differences in usage, with examples to clarify their distinctions.

Imply means to express or suggest something indirectly—without explicitly stating it. Infer means to draw a conclusion from some evidence—in other words, to pick up on something that was implied.

First, let us define the two words:

Imply: To suggest or convey indirectly; to indicate or hint at something without stating it outright.

Infer: To deduce or conclude something from evidence or reasoning; to arrive at a conclusion based on what is known or observed.

To understand the difference between "imply" and "infer," it is helpful to consider their relationship to one another. "Imply" is a verb of communication, meaning that it is used to convey a message to someone else. "Infer," on the other hand, is a verb of cognition, meaning that it is used to describe the mental process of arriving at a conclusion based on evidence or reasoning.

In simpler terms, "imply" is what a speaker does to convey a message, while "infer" is what a listener does to understand that message. Therefore, while they are related, they have distinct meanings and uses.

Let us now explore the differences between the two words in more detail.

Usage of "Imply"

"Imply" is a verb that describes the act of suggesting or hinting at something without explicitly stating it. It is a way of communicating indirectly, often to avoid being too direct or to allow the listener to draw their own conclusions. "Imply" is commonly used in everyday speech and writing.


Here are a few examples of how "imply" is used in sentences:

"He didn't say it directly, but he implied that he wasn't interested in going to the party."

In this example, the speaker is suggesting that the person in question is not interested in attending the party, without stating it outright. The listener must infer this information from the speaker's implication.


"The article implies that there is more to the story than what was reported."

Here, the speaker is suggesting that the article suggests that there is more information about the story than what was originally reported. The listener must infer what that additional information might be.


"Her tone of voice implied that she was unhappy with the decision."

In this example, the speaker is suggesting that the tone of voice used by the person in question conveyed a feeling of unhappiness with the decision. The listener must infer that the person is unhappy based on their interpretation of the speaker's implication.


Usage of "Infer"

"Infer" is a verb that describes the act of deducing or concluding something based on evidence or reasoning. It is a way of making a logical connection between what is known and what can be inferred based on that knowledge. "Infer" is commonly used in both academic and everyday speech and writing.


Here are a few examples of how "infer" is used in sentences:

"Based on the evidence, I can infer that the suspect was at the scene of the crime."

In this example, the speaker is stating that based on the available evidence, they have concluded that the suspect was present at the scene of the crime. The listener can understand this conclusion without any implication from the speaker.


"From the tone of his voice, I inferred that he was angry."

Here, the speaker is stating that based on the tone of voice used by the person in question, they concluded that the person was angry. The speaker did not imply that the person was angry, but rather drew a conclusion based on evidence.


"Given the information we have, we can infer that the company is in financial trouble."

In this example, the speaker is stating that based on the available information, they have concluded that the company is in financial trouble. The listener can understand this conclusion without any implication from the speaker.


Key Differences between "Imply" and "Infer"

  1. Imply is an action performed by the speaker or writer to convey a message indirectly, while infer is a mental process performed by the listener or reader to arrive at a conclusion based on evidence or reasoning.
  2. Imply involves suggesting or hinting at something without explicitly stating it, while infer involves deducing or concluding something based on what is known or observed.
  3. Imply is often used in everyday speech and writing, while infer is used in both academic and everyday contexts.
  4. The implication is often open to interpretation and can be misunderstood, while the inference is based on evidence or reasoning and is more likely to be accurate.
  5. Imply is often followed by a statement or situation, while infer is often followed by a conclusion or inference.
  6. Imply is active, while infer is passive.
  7. Imply is often subjective, while infer is often objective.


Examples:

  • "He didn't say it directly, but he implied that he wasn't interested in going to the party." (Imply)
  • "From his lack of response, I inferred that he wasn't interested in going to the party." (Infer)
  • "The teacher's tone implied that she was disappointed in the class's performance." (Imply)
  • "Based on the grades and feedback, I inferred that the teacher was disappointed in the class's performance." (Infer)
  • "The advertisement implies that their product is the best on the market." (Imply)
  • "From the reviews and ratings, I inferred that their product is highly rated by consumers." (Infer)
  • "She implied that she was going to quit her job, but didn't say it outright." (Imply)
  • "From her comments and behavior, I inferred that she was considering quitting her job." (Infer)

Is infer ever a synonym of imply?

People sometimes use infer interchangeably with imply, using it to mean “suggest” or “indicate.” Most commentators view this as a stylistic error, since it blurs the distinction between the two words.

Some authorities, such as Merriam-Webster, regard this usage as perfectly fine, since it has a long history (e.g., in Shakespeare: “this doth infer the zeal I had to see him”). They state that the objections to this usage began only in the 20th century.

However, this sense of infer is now rarely seen in published writing and widely regarded as wrong. To avoid any problems, our advice is to maintain a clear distinction between the two words, using imply to mean “suggest” and infer only to mean “deduce.”

What is a synonym of “imply”?

Some synonyms and near-synonyms of the transitive verb imply are:

  • Entail
  • Hint (at)
  • Indicate
  • Insinuate
  • Intimate
  • Suggest

Infer is sometimes used as a synonym of imply. While some authorities see this as an acceptable use of infer, it’s mostly frowned upon. We recommend against using infer in this sense.


What is a synonym of “infer”?

Some synonyms and near-synonyms of the transitive verb infer are:

  • Ascertain
  • Conclude
  • Deduce
  • Derive
  • Draw the conclusion
  • Extrapolate
  • Gather
  • Guess
  • Reason
  • Surmise
  • Understand


Conclusion:

In summary, "imply" and "infer" are related words with distinct meanings and uses. "Imply" is an action taken by the speaker or writer to convey a message indirectly, while "infer" is a mental process performed by the listener or reader to arrive at a conclusion based on evidence or reasoning. While they are often used interchangeably, understanding the differences between these two words can help improve communication and avoid confusion.

Previous Post Next Post