drew an inference

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "drew an inference" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the process of reaching a conclusion based on evidence or reasoning. Example: "After analyzing the data, she drew an inference about the correlation between the two variables."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

He added: "The coroner drew an inference.

The Guardian

With a crucial decision to make, Boehm drew an inference: If West had begun with an ace-queen combination, he would assume from the bidding that the king was on his right and select a lead in another suit.

The New York Times - Style

I would argue that any physical absence [of evidence of] a third party being present tends to make the hypotheses that there is a third party present less likely". He added: "The coroner drew an inference.

The Guardian

Recall the example in which, by parallelizing, we drew an inference from "white horses are horses" to "riding white horses is riding horses".

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Methodological errors were identified that preclude drawing an inference of race-specific exclusion.

Journal of Criminal Justice

The tribunal cannot "draw an inference of discrimination from the mere fact" of unfair or unreasonable behaviour by an employer.

The Guardian - Sport

In drawing an inference from the settlement, a court must therefore account for the distorting effect of its own inference.

University of California, Berkeley

Yet few Americans would have dreamed they could get into trouble for drawing an inference based on observations at work.

The New York Times - Magazine

"So you can look at three or four cases and try to draw an inference about bad priests and you would be wrong.

The New York Times

The upshot is that the three steps simply tell doctors to gather data from which they may draw an inference in light of the correlations.

Harvard University

The trial judge did not prohibit the jury from drawing an inference from the general proposition to Graves' subjective thought process.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "drew an inference" when you want to emphasize the active process of reasoning and arriving at a conclusion based on specific evidence or observations. This phrase is particularly useful in analytical or investigative contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "drew an inference" in situations where a simpler term like "concluded" or "inferred" would suffice. Overusing complex phrasing can make your writing sound unnecessarily convoluted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drew an inference" functions as a verb phrase, where "drew" is the past tense of "draw", and "an inference" serves as the object. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "drew an inference" is a grammatically sound way to describe the process of reaching a conclusion based on reasoning and evidence. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While it's not overly common, it appears in diverse contexts like News & Media, Science, and Academia. It is crucial to use it correctly in order to add value to the sentence. For simpler contexts, alternatives such as "made an inference" or "concluded" may be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

made an inference

Replaces "drew" with "made", offering a more common and direct alternative while retaining the core meaning.

inferred

A direct synonym for 'drew an inference', using a single verb to express the act of inferring.

deduced

Uses a single verb to convey the act of drawing a conclusion based on reasoning, making it more concise.

concluded

Similar to 'deduced', focusing on the outcome of the reasoning process.

reached a conclusion

Replaces "drew an inference" with a more explicit and descriptive phrase.

reasoned

Focuses on the thought process leading to the inference.

determined

Emphasizes the act of arriving at a firm decision or conclusion.

extrapolated

Implies extending known information to infer new, related information.

derived

Suggests obtaining the inference from a source or principle.

formulated an opinion

Highlights the subjective aspect of inference, framing it as the creation of an opinion.

FAQs

What does "drew an inference" mean?

The phrase "drew an inference" means to reach a conclusion or make a judgment based on evidence and reasoning. It implies an active cognitive process of deriving meaning from available information.

What can I say instead of "drew an inference"?

You can use alternatives like "made an inference", "inferred", or "concluded" depending on the context. These options provide similar meanings with slight variations in formality and emphasis.

Is it better to say "drew an inference" or "made an inference"?

Both "drew an inference" and "made an inference" are grammatically correct and convey the same basic meaning. "Made an inference" is more common and may be preferred for its simplicity, while "drew an inference" can add a subtle emphasis on the process of reasoning.

How to use "drew an inference" in a sentence?

You can use "drew an inference" in sentences like: "After analyzing the data, she drew an inference about the correlation between the two variables." or "Based on his testimony, the jury drew an inference of guilt."