inference

USAGE SUMMARY

'inference' is an acceptable and commonly used word in written English.
It is used to describe the process of drawing a conclusion from facts or evidence, often without having direct evidence. For example, "From the conversations overheard, he inferred that his co-workers did not support his plan."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

The Economist

The Guardian

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This was thrilling news indeed as the clear inference is that there are other prehistoric creatures on the grand prix circuit who use their weirdly foreshortened front legs for swatting away pterodactyls and making futile attempts to grab up lithe and bronzed young cave-chicks clad in sloth fur bikinis.

The Guardian - Sport

Barker, the McDonald's spokeswoman, said the "inference" of the Guardian's inquiries about the company's tight knit board was "quite puzzling".

The Guardian - Business

That was an inference taken from his contribution to a debate about Regulation of Investigatory ­Powers Act, in which he said: "In a very limited range of circumstances, an authorisation under RIPA part II may render lawful conduct that would ­otherwise be criminal, if it is incidental to any conduct falling with the Act that the source is authorised to take".

The Guardian - Opinion

Blatter's stunning announcement came a day before Blazer's testimony was due to be published in the US, which led to speculation that it would contain a bombshell for Blatter, an inference his aides rejected.

The Guardian - Sport

The right to silence was already restricted by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (Sections 34-38), which enables a court, if it wishes and in certain circumstances, to draw an adverse inference from a defendant's failure to answer questions on any charge.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Certainly that would be a reasonable inference to make," Murray replied.

The Guardian

I merely had to receive orders and relay information for my Lord Vader and, by inference, for the teenagers gathered on the parlour carpet.

The Guardian - Film

A close reading leaves little room for doubt that vendors like Microsoft, IBM, Siemens, Cisco and Hitachi construct the resident of the smart city as someone without agency; merely a passive consumer of municipal services – at best, perhaps, a generator of data that can later be aggregated, mined for relevant inference, and acted upon.

The Guardian

For years, film-makers in America were trapped by the motion picture production code, which banned "any inference of sex perversion".

The Guardian - Opinion

The circumstantial evidence "is not sufficient to enable an overwhelming inference to be drawn" that there was such an agreement, the CPS said.

The Guardian

Women should rise above such closed shop tactics, which are no better than the jobs for the boys inference of freemasonry".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the evidence you provide clearly supports the "inference" you are drawing. Avoid making leaps in logic or drawing conclusions from insufficient data.

Common error

Be careful not to present an "inference" as an established fact. Always acknowledge that an "inference" is a conclusion based on interpretation and may be subject to different perspectives or further evidence.

Linguistic Context

The word "inference" primarily functions as a noun, referring to the act or process of inferring. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes drawing conclusions from evidence. Examples show it used in contexts like legal arguments, data analysis, and understanding people's motivations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

16%

Science

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

2%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "inference" is a common and grammatically correct noun that signifies the act of drawing a conclusion based on evidence and reasoning. As Ludwig AI confirms, the examples provided by Ludwig show its frequent use across diverse contexts, including news reporting, business analysis, and scientific studies. Its usage is generally neutral, leaning toward formal. Related terms include "deduction", "conclusion", and "assumption", each carrying slightly different nuances. A key writing tip is to avoid presenting an "inference" as an indisputable fact, while ensuring that the evidence supports the drawn "inference".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deduction

Focuses on a conclusion reached through logical reasoning from established premises.

conclusion

Represents the final judgment or decision reached after consideration.

drawing a conclusion

Highlights the active process of forming a judgment.

assumption

Implies something taken for granted or supposed to be true without proof.

implication

Emphasizes what is suggested or hinted at, rather than directly stated.

supposition

Suggests a belief held without sufficient evidence.

presumption

Highlights something assumed to be true based on probability or likelihood.

interpretation

Focuses on the explanation or meaning assigned to something.

extrapolation

Emphasizes the estimation of something based on extending known information.

reading between the lines

Refers to understanding the hidden or implied meaning.

FAQs

How to use "inference" in a sentence?

"Inference" is used to describe the process of reaching a conclusion based on evidence or reasoning. For example, "The detective made an "inference" based on the clues at the crime scene."

What can I say instead of "inference"?

You can use alternatives like "deduction", "conclusion", or "assumption" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "inference" and "implication"?

"Inference" is the conclusion drawn by the reader or listener, while "implication" is what the writer or speaker suggests. "Inference" is the act of deriving logical conclusions from premises known or assumed to be true; "implication" is something that is suggested without being explicitly stated.

Is it correct to say 'draw an inference' or 'make an inference'?

Both "draw an inference" and "make an inference" are correct and commonly used. They both mean to reach a conclusion based on evidence and reasoning.