if it implied

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "if it implied" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to refer to something that was suggested or indicated, but it lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. Example: "I need to clarify the message, as I'm not sure if it implied that we should proceed with the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

She warned that the UK risked alienating peaceful pro-democratic Brotherhood supporters if it implied they had tendencies towards violent extremism.

The Guardian

But the fact that their stockmarkets are still coupled does not mean that their economies will follow America over a cliff.Decoupling was always a misnomer if it implied that an American recession would have no impact in the East.

The Economist

Catholics showing virtually any streak of independent or innovative thinking, especially if it implied something valuable in modern thought and culture, risked having their prospects for leadership in the church waylaid.

The New York Times

That has been left to the military-dominated National Security Council, which on March 1st announced 20 secularism-strengthening measures the government had to take if, it implied, the soldiers were not to seize power for the fourth time in 40 years.

The Economist

Surely one of the reasons the left has been losing the debate on welfare in America is that they still so often use the word "poverty" as if it  implied Dickensian levels of hunger and deprivation, rather than the subtler tortures of bad neighbourhoods, appalling schools, and little margin for error in conducting one's life.

The Economist

It is for this reason that many Bayesians prefer to focus on probability ratios of hypotheses (see the Ratio Formula above), rather than their absolute probability; but it is clear that the introduction of a new theory could also alter the probability ratio of two hypotheses — for example, if it implied one of them as a special case.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Even if a fund meets the 80percentteststhethe rule says, its name may be misleading if it implies an even higher commitment.

The New York Times

If it implies any criticism of the Clinton administration, that's their problem, not ours".

The New York Times

A lower pound will ease the transition, even if it implies lower living standards for a while.

The Guardian - Business

But if it asks something more, if it implies a certain way of life, then we must keep the Champagne corked.

The New York Times

There may be something in that, even if it implies Wayne Rooney and the rest spend more time reading newspapers and watching Panorama than they actually do.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using conditional statements, ensure the verb tense and structure clearly convey the intended meaning. For instance, instead of "if it implied", consider using "if it suggested" or "if it indicated" for better clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "if it implied" as it is grammatically awkward. Ensure that the conditional clause has a clear and logical connection to the main clause, and that the verb tenses are correctly aligned to reflect the intended sequence of events or implications.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "if it implied" functions as a conditional conjunction, attempting to introduce a hypothetical situation or condition. However, Ludwig indicates that it is not grammatically correct, making its use problematic in formal writing.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "if it implied" is found in various sources, Ludwig identifies it as grammatically questionable. Correct alternatives such as "if it suggested" or "if it indicated" offer more clarity and grammatical accuracy. Although present in both scientific and news contexts, its usage is infrequent and should be carefully considered. Focus on ensuring that your conditional statements are clear, logically structured, and grammatically sound.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

if it suggested

Replaces "implied" with "suggested", offering a direct synonym with little semantic alteration.

if it indicated

Substitutes "implied" with "indicated", another synonym focusing on the act of pointing something out.

if it meant

Replaces "implied" with "meant", focusing on the inherent meaning or intention.

if it signified

Changes "implied" to "signified", highlighting the role of the condition as a sign or signal.

if it entailed

Replaces "implied" with "entailed", emphasizing that the condition necessarily involved something.

if that were the implication

Rephrases to clarify that the condition contains the implication.

assuming it implied

Adds "assuming" to introduce uncertainty or a hypothetical scenario about the implication.

in the event that it implied

Introduces a formal tone, indicating that the implication serves as a condition.

should it have implied

Shifts the tense to the past, presenting a speculative scenario concerning the implication.

if such was the implication

Rephrases to emphasize the nature or existence of the implication itself.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "if it implied"?

You can use alternatives like "if it suggested", "if it indicated", or "if it meant" depending on the context.

Why is "if it implied" considered grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "if it implied" isn't standard English usage. It often lacks clarity and doesn't fit typical conditional sentence structures. Using alternatives like "if it suggested" provides a clearer, grammatically sound construction.

How can I use "if it suggested" in a sentence?

Example: "She warned that the UK risked alienating peaceful pro-democratic Brotherhood supporters if it suggested they had tendencies towards violent extremism."

What's the difference between "if it implied" and "if it indicates"?

"If it implied" is not standard English and should be avoided. "If it indicates" is grammatically correct and means 'if something points to or suggests something else'.