Struggling with Understanding the Difference Between "Imply" and "Infer" — Help?

Question

Hi everyone,

I'm currently working on improving my writing skills, and I keep getting confused between when to use "imply" vs "infer." I’ve seen both used in similar contexts, and sometimes I’m not sure if the speaker implies or the listener infers — or the other way around.

Could someone please explain the difference in simple terms, maybe with a few examples? Also, any tips or tricks to remember which is which would be really helpful.

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Hi Cara, this is a great question!

The confusion you are experiencing is completely understandable and very common.

In simple terms, to imply is to make a suggestion, and to infer is to make a deduction (or conclusion).

So, when you imply, you are suggesting the truth or existence of something indirectly (without it being directly stated). Ex: "Nowhere in the abstract do the researchers imply a casual link."

Whereas, when. you infer, you are coming to a deduction or conclusion based on evidence (without it being directly stated). Ex: "It is possible to infer a trend from the figures."

With all that said, the main difference between imply and infer is the absence or presence of evidence.

If evidence is not present, then the subject is making a suggestion and imply should be used. If evidence is present, such as "the figures" mentioned in the example, then the subject is coming to a conclusion and infer should be used.

I hope you found my answer helpful. Please reach out if you have any further questions, would like to discuss this topic further, or are interested in scheduling a free consultation!