infer meaning

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "infer meaning" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used when someone is trying to interpret or understand something from a piece of text or information. Example: The students were asked to read a difficult excerpt from a novel and infer the meaning behind the main character's actions.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Unlike human readers, computers cannot infer meaning from ambiguous text.

TechCrunch

The new million dollar app YO lets users communicate the same generic 'yo' message to anyone, leaving it up the receiver to infer meaning.

TechCrunch

The team came out of Qualcomm Labs, where CEO Ian Heidt had been working on a context-awareness platform called Gimbal that would infer meaning from a smartphone's sensors.

TechCrunch

All reading requires the reader to infer meaning: the first chapter of The Sound and the Fury turns inference into an extreme sport.

The Guardian - Books

Even if you barely know the language, you can then infer meaning from fragments you comprehend, guessing at unknown words from context.

The New York Times

It is unattractive, its mystical pretenses fail to even infer meaning, and it is a colossal waste of a facade that with a triumphant work could unite the entire area.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

How can you teach your students to analyze and infer meanings from objects?

University of California, Berkeley

Siri's great trick is inferring meaning; Watson's great trick is retrieving information.

MIT Technology Review

Colour is used as a visual clue for quick recognition of the nature of the process depicted and group processes into 'type' but again is not necessary for inferring meaning.

BMC Systems Biology

It's true, however, that some companies are working on technologies that can be used for inferring meanings, which would be the next step.

The New Yorker

As an ethnographer, I inferred meanings by sorting through the consonances and dissonances, and what the gaps meant, if anything.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "infer meaning", ensure the context provides sufficient clues for the reader to reasonably deduce the intended significance.

Common error

Avoid using "infer meaning" when the intended meaning is highly specialized or requires specific background knowledge not readily available to the audience. Provide explicit explanations instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "infer meaning" functions as a verb phrase where "infer" is the verb and "meaning" is the direct object. It describes the action of drawing a conclusion or understanding something based on available information. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

36%

Academia

23%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "infer meaning" is a grammatically sound and useful expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, to describe the process of deducing understanding from implicit information. While not exceptionally common, its presence across various domains, especially news, science, and academia, indicates its versatility and reliability. When employing the phrase, ensure the context offers sufficient cues for the reader to make reasonable inferences. Alternatives such as "deduce meaning" or "interpret meaning" may offer nuanced variations, depending on the specific context. By paying attention to the context in which is used, the writers can avoid typical mistakes and clearly communicate their intended message. Ludwig's wealth of examples provides valuable insight into how best to utilize this phrase effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deduce meaning

This alternative emphasizes a logical reasoning process to arrive at the meaning.

interpret meaning

This focuses on explaining or clarifying the meaning, often involving subjective understanding.

ascertain meaning

This suggests a more definitive discovery or establishment of the meaning.

derive meaning

This highlights the process of obtaining or extracting meaning from something.

extract meaning

Focuses on pulling meaning out of something, often implying it's not readily apparent.

understand meaning

This alternative focuses on the comprehension aspect of meaning.

grasp meaning

This suggests a quick or intuitive understanding of the meaning.

discern meaning

This implies careful perception or discrimination to understand the meaning.

decipher meaning

This suggests overcoming difficulty or obscurity to reveal the meaning.

decode meaning

This implies converting a coded message or symbol into understandable meaning.

FAQs

How can I use "infer meaning" in a sentence?

You can use "infer meaning" when you want to express the act of deducing or understanding something indirectly from available information. For example, "Readers must carefully analyze the text to "infer meaning" from the author's subtle hints."

What's the difference between "infer meaning" and "deduce meaning"?

"Infer meaning" generally involves drawing conclusions based on incomplete information or context, while "deduce meaning" suggests a more logical and certain reasoning process based on explicit premises. "Deduce meaning" implies a higher degree of certainty.

Which is correct, "infer meaning" or "imply meaning"?

"Infer" and "imply" are related but have opposite directions. Speakers or writers "imply meaning", while listeners or readers "infer meaning". "Imply" means to suggest something indirectly, while "infer" means to draw a conclusion from evidence.

What are some alternative phrases for "infer meaning"?

Alternatives to "infer meaning" include "interpret meaning", "ascertain meaning", or "derive meaning". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.