Difference Between Infer and Imply

Both infer and imply are verbs that are commonly used in the English language. They are often confused with each other, but they have distinct meanings and usages.

Meaning of Infer

The verb infer means to deduce or conclude something from evidence or reasoning rather than from explicit statements. It is used when someone makes an educated guess or inference based on available information.

Usage of Infer

• Used in situations where someone is making an educated guess based on limited information.
• Used to describe the process of drawing conclusions from data or evidence.

Examples of Infer

• Based on his body language and tone of voice, I inferred that he was angry.
• The map allows us to infer that there is a shortcut to the beach.
• From the empty parking lot, we can infer that the store is closed.
• We can infer from the closed blinds that they are trying to sleep.
• I can infer from your facial expression that you are unhappy.
• We can infer from the smell that dinner is ready.

Meaning of Imply

The verb imply means to suggest or indicate something indirectly or without explicitly stating it. It is used when someone is hinting at something without stating it outright.

Usage of Imply

• Used in situations where someone is hinting at something without stating it directly.
• Used to describe the use of language that suggests something indirectly.

Examples of Imply

• His tone of voice implied that he didn’t believe me.
• The dress code implies that formal attire is required.
• She implied that she would be happy to help us out.
• His refusal to answer implied that he had something to hide.
• The sign implies that the road is closed for construction.
• The headline implies that there has been a major breakthrough.
• His raised eyebrows implied surprise at what he had just heard.

Differences between Infer and Imply

	Infer	Imply
Definition	To deduce or conclude something from evidence or reasoning rather than from explicit statements	To suggest or indicate something indirectly or without explicitly stating it
Speaker	The person who draws the conclusion based on the evidence or reasoning	The person who hints at something without stating it directly
Evidence	Inferencing requires some sort of evidence or data	Implying doesn’t necessarily require evidence
Intention	The speaker may not have intended to convey a particular meaning	The speaker usually intends to convey a particular meaning
Directness	Inferencing is usually indirect	Implying is always indirect
Communication	Inferencing is a form of communication	Implying is a form of communication
Usage	Inferencing is used to draw conclusions from evidence or data	Implying is used to hint at something
Grammatical Role	Infer is a transitive verb	Imply is an intransitive verb
Passive Voice	Infer can be used in the passive voice	Imply cannot be used in the passive voice
Synonyms	Deduce, conclude, derive	Suggest, hint, insinuate
Antonyms	Explicit, state, tell	State, express, declare
Frequency of Usage	Less common than imply	More common than infer
Context	Used in academic, scientific, and technical writing	Used in everyday conversation and informal writing
Misuse	Used incorrectly in place of imply	Used incorrectly in place

Conclusion

In conclusion, infer and imply are two commonly confused verbs in the English language. While they have some similarities, they have distinct meanings and usages.