deduce

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "deduce" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a verb meaning to infer or figure out something by reasoning. You can use it in situations where you need to draw a conclusion from existing evidence. For example, "After examining the evidence, the detective was able to deduce that the suspect had been at the scene of the crime."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's not a great leap to deduce therefore that you've almost certainly been brain-zapped hundreds of times and that precious memory of going on holiday last year is entirely fictitious.

The Guardian - Film

From this reference, we can deduce that the OLC authored a separate drone memo assessing – and dispensing with – the proposition that an American citizen had the right not to be deprived of his life without some form of judicial process.

The Guardian - Opinion

Before long, smartphones will be able to deduce our emotional state from our social interactions and tone of voice, while wearable sensors will measure adherence to "smart" medicines and gather important data on a range of factors relevant to mental health, including sleep quality, cardiovascular status, galvanic skin response and even gait.

The Guardian

We are clearly meant to deduce the party holding the conference has sold out.

The Guardian - Arts

The games, also used to deduce prospective signings' suitability for the Dynamo Kiev side of the time, tested a range of attributes from nerve and endurance to reaction times and memory.

The Guardian - Sport

In the past two decades, studies of the neurobiology of social behaviour have identified a network of regions which have evolved to help us interact with other individuals, remember information about them, deduce what they might be likely to do, and most importantly understand their internal state and think of things which might help them.

The Guardian

Can astronomers deduce, from the chemical composition of the leftover stars, how big it was?

The Economist

They then used models of global wind circulation to deduce which dust sources have become stronger and which weaker.

The Economist

Some of it has been diverted elsewhere.It is one thing to deduce how much money is coming in.

The Economist

One type of supernova, we learn, always explodes with about the same energy, making it possible to deduce the distance to the explosion from its observed brightness.

The Economist

By looking at the negative database, it would be possible to deduce what was in the positive database it complemented.That would not guarantee security against a search for the presence or absence of a particular name and address.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "deduce" when you want to emphasize a logical process of reasoning from given information to reach a conclusion. Ensure that the evidence or premises you're using are clearly stated or implied in the context.

Common error

Avoid using "deduce" when you're actually describing an inductive process. Deduction starts with general principles and applies them to specific cases, while induction starts with specific observations and infers general principles. For example, it's incorrect to say "I deduced that it always rains on Tuesdays because it has rained every Tuesday for the past month." A more correct usage is "From the tire tracks and the mud, I deduced that the vehicle was an SUV."

Linguistic Context

The verb "deduce" primarily functions as a transitive verb, requiring a direct object. Ludwig AI data confirms its use in drawing conclusions based on available information, as seen in examples such as "smartphones will be able to deduce our emotional state" or "astronomers "can deduce", from the chemical composition".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "deduce" is a grammatically correct verb meaning to infer or conclude something using logical reasoning. It is very commonly used across various contexts, particularly in news, media, and scientific writing. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, "deduce" is most often employed to describe the act of reaching a conclusion based on evidence or premises. When writing, remember to use "deduce" when emphasizing a logical process based on given information, and be careful not to confuse it with induction. Alternative phrases such as "infer", "conclude", and "derive" can be used to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Infer

Focuses more on drawing a conclusion from indirect evidence or implication.

Conclude

Emphasizes the reaching of a final judgment or decision after considering information.

Derive

Highlights the process of obtaining something, such as a conclusion, from a source.

Reason

Implies a logical and structured thought process leading to a conclusion.

Figure out

An informal way to describe the process of discovering or understanding something through thought.

Gather

Suggests collecting information to form a conclusion.

Determine

Focuses on establishing something definitively as a result of investigation or calculation.

Ascertain

Emphasizes discovering something with certainty, often through inquiry or investigation.

Understand

Signifies grasping the meaning or significance of something, possibly leading to a deduction.

Extract

Highlights the removal of information from a source to reach a conclusion.

FAQs

How to use "deduce" in a sentence?

Use "deduce" to describe the process of reaching a conclusion through logical reasoning. For example, "From the evidence, the jury could "deduce" the defendant's guilt."

What can I say instead of "deduce"?

You can use alternatives like "infer", "conclude", or "derive" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "deduce" or "deduct"?

"Deduce" means to arrive at a conclusion by reasoning, while "deduct" means to subtract or take away. The correct choice depends on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "deduce" and "imply"?

"Deduce" means to draw a conclusion from evidence, while "imply" means to suggest something indirectly. The speaker or writer implies, and the listener or reader deduces.