infer

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "infer" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to express the conclusion or opinion that is reached through reasoning or observation. For example: After studying the evidence, I infer that the suspect is guilty.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They're able to infer human intentions by reading body language and odour, to the extent that they can smell oncoming seizures in epileptics and diabetics.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But knowing what I do, I infer a sombre, if not quite funereal, purpose to the place.

The Guardian

The Resolution Foundation avoids sketching out what the human implications of this consumer credit crunch might be, but they're not hard to infer: red-letter bills, forced sales of homes, and a rise in repossessions.

The Guardian - Opinion

To take things further, what if the same data can be used to infer how active you've been in the bedroom too?

The Guardian

It concluded that it would be unsafe to infer from mortality statistics that there was any particular number of avoidable or unnecessary deaths at the trust.

The Guardian

A spokesman for Hunt said the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority had issued a clarification on the report Butler mentioned, tempering its conclusions by stressing that "modelling results should not be used to determine actual dredge material movement or be used to infer where sediment could be dispersed and deposited or its ecological significance".

The Guardian

You don't need to be a psychologist to infer that Alexander, who is 24 but looks about 16, sees himself as the little boy.

The Guardian - Music

Japan's conduct, rather than the programme itself, lead the court to infer that their primary motivation was not scientific and therefore the country was in breach of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW).

The Guardian

We infer that new construction in warm regions represents a growth in supply, rather than demand, from the fact that prices are generally falling relative to the rest of the country.

The Economist

Scraping such information off social networks and combining it with data drawn from sites for searching, shopping, downloading, streaming or whatever lets social marketers infer all they need to know about most individuals.

The Economist

In answer to a question as to what would happen in the event that the policy failed, Russell said that a war before Russia had nuclear weapons would be less disastrous than one after she had them—he did not infer from this that a war should be started straightaway.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "infer" when you're drawing a conclusion based on evidence, not when you're directly stating something. The evidence should be present or implied.

Common error

Avoid using "infer" when you mean to "imply". "Infer" means to draw a conclusion, while "imply" means to suggest something without saying it directly. The speaker implies, and the listener infers.

Linguistic Context

The verb "infer" functions as a cognitive verb, indicating a mental process of drawing conclusions from evidence or reasoning. Ludwig AI confirms the correct usage of "infer" in this context. Examples show its use in analyzing data and understanding motivations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the verb "infer" is a versatile and commonly used term that indicates the process of drawing a conclusion based on evidence or reasoning. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's essential to use "infer" when you're deducing something from indirect information, distinguishing it from "imply," which means to suggest something indirectly. According to the examples, "infer" appears frequently in "news & media", "formal & business", and "science" contexts. Using related words such as "deduce", "conclude", and "surmise" can add nuance to your writing, but it's crucial to choose the word that best fits the specific context. Remember to avoid the common error of confusing "infer" with "imply" to ensure clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deduce

Focuses on drawing a logical conclusion from available evidence.

conclude

Suggests reaching a final judgment or decision after considering information.

surmise

Emphasizes forming an opinion or belief based on incomplete evidence.

gather

Implies collecting information to form an understanding.

assume

Suggests taking something for granted without proof.

understand

Highlights the comprehension aspect of grasping meaning.

extrapolate

Involves extending known information to predict or estimate unknown values.

interpret

Focuses on explaining the meaning of something.

deduct

Describes reasoning from general principles to specific instances.

speculate

Implies forming a theory or conjecture without firm evidence.

FAQs

How do you use "infer" in a sentence?

The word "infer" is used to describe the process of drawing a conclusion based on evidence or reasoning. For example, "From the data, we can "infer" a correlation between the two variables."

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

"Imply" means to suggest something indirectly, while "infer" means to draw a conclusion from evidence. The speaker or writer "implies", and the listener or reader "infers".

What can I say instead of "infer"?

You can use alternatives like "deduce", "conclude", or "surmise" depending on the context. Each of these alternatives carries slightly different nuances in meaning.

Is it correct to say "I infer that you are happy"?

While grammatically correct, it's more common to use "I gather" or "I deduce" in such a sentence. "Infer" is typically used when drawing a conclusion from more substantial evidence than someone's immediate expression. Consider using "I "gather" that you are happy" instead.