he hints that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he hints that" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone is subtly suggesting or implying something without stating it explicitly. Example: During the meeting, John's boss kept interrupting him and making sly comments, hinting that he was dissatisfied with John's work.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

Mr Denktash has said that his people must have "29%-plus", though now he hints that may be too little.

The Economist

He barely tells us how he survived financially in the United States, though he hints that like other Tiananmen-movement exiles, he lived on handouts.

The New York Times - Books

But he hints that the i3 will not be cheap.

The Guardian - Business

He hints that he has been on both sides of the drugs-for-sex equation.

The New Yorker

He hints that the solution has to be deeper political integration.

The Economist

He hints that the company might even return, one day, to making consumer goods.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

Speaking in Washington last week, he hinted that politically driven timescales do not match reality.

Independent

But he hinted that it might.

The New York Times

Last week he hinted that that was imminent.

The Guardian - Business

He hinted that she could lose the property, she said.

The New York Times

And he hinted that more bad news was to come.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "he hints that", ensure the context provides enough clues for the reader to understand the implied meaning. Otherwise, the hint may be missed.

Common error

Avoid making the hint so subtle that it becomes unclear or confusing. Ensure the context provides enough information for the reader to grasp the intended meaning. If the hint is too vague, it loses its effectiveness.

Linguistic Context

He hints that functions as a reporting clause, introducing a subtle or indirect statement. It indicates that the subject is suggesting something without explicitly stating it. Ludwig provides numerous examples, confirming its role in conveying implied meaning.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he hints that" is a versatile phrase used to indicate that someone is subtly suggesting something, without making a direct statement. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used, especially in news and media contexts. When using the phrase, ensure the hint is clear enough for the reader to understand the intended meaning and remember that you can use alternatives like ""he implies that"" or ""he suggests that"" to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he implies that

Focuses on the act of suggesting something without explicitly stating it.

he suggests that

Emphasizes a tentative proposal or idea put forward for consideration.

he insinuates that

Highlights a subtle, often negative, implication.

he intimates that

Indicates a delicate or private way of conveying information.

he implies

Shortened form, maintaining the meaning of indirect suggestion.

he alludes to

Highlights an indirect reference, often to something well-known.

he indicates that

Focuses on pointing out something, often subtly.

he gives the impression that

Emphasizes the perception or feeling conveyed.

he leads one to believe that

Highlights the influence on someone's belief.

he drops a hint that

Emphasizes the subtlety and indirectness of the suggestion.

FAQs

What does "he hints that" mean?

The phrase "he hints that" means someone is subtly suggesting something without directly stating it. It's a way of implying information.

How to use "he hints that" in a sentence?

You can use "he hints that" when you want to show a person is implying something. For example, "During the meeting, he hints that budget cuts are coming." or "He hints that something big is coming.".

What can I say instead of "he hints that"?

You can use alternatives like "he implies that", "he suggests that", or "he insinuates that" depending on the context.

Is "he hints that" formal or informal?

"He hints that" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, depending on the surrounding language and tone. It is frequently seen in news articles and other professional communications.