inferring meaning

USAGE SUMMARY

"inferring meaning" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are making an argument that certain ideas are implied or inferred from a given set of facts. For example, "By inferring meaning from the figures presented in the report, it can be seen that the company is not doing as well as the CEO claims."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

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

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 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

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

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

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The assumption made by Rose, Murdoch, Farage and other journalists who picked up on the story is that you can infer meaning about global warming and the effect of sea ice extent from just one year of data.

The Guardian

Although robots have long reacted to humans, they largely fail to consider the way their functional actions will be perceived socially by humans, who tend to infer meaning in every action.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about "inferring meaning", ensure the context provides sufficient clues for the reader to understand how the meaning is being derived.

Common error

Avoid assuming that the meaning you are "inferring" is universally understood. Clearly articulate the steps or evidence leading to your interpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "inferring meaning" functions as a gerund phrase, often used as a noun, describing the action or process of deducing or deriving meaning from information. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

38%

Academia

24%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "inferring meaning" is a grammatically correct gerund phrase used to describe the process of deducing or understanding something implicitly. While Ludwig AI confirms its usability, the phrase is relatively rare. It appears most frequently in scientific, news, and academic contexts, reflecting its use in analytical and interpretive activities. When using this phrase, ensure the context provides sufficient clues to support the intended inference, avoiding assumptions that the meaning is obvious. Alternatives like "deriving meaning" or "extracting meaning" can be considered to provide different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deriving meaning

This alternative emphasizes the process of obtaining meaning from something, similar to inferring.

extracting meaning

This highlights the act of pulling meaning out of something, suggesting a more active retrieval.

interpreting significance

This phrase focuses on understanding the importance or relevance of something, rather than just its meaning.

understanding implication

This emphasizes grasping the indirect suggestions or unspoken meanings within something.

deciphering message

This suggests a more complex or hidden meaning that needs to be decoded.

grasping essence

This focuses on understanding the core or fundamental nature of something.

deducing intent

This shifts the focus to figuring out the purpose or goal behind something.

construing interpretation

This highlights a particular way of understanding or explaining something.

ascertaining denotation

This emphasizes determining the literal or explicit meaning of something.

reading between the lines

This idiom focuses on understanding the implied or unstated meaning.

FAQs

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

You can use "inferring meaning" to describe the process of deducing or understanding something from available information. For example, "By carefully analyzing the data, we are "inferring meaning" about the market trends".

What is a good substitute for the phrase "inferring meaning"?

Alternatives include "deriving meaning", "extracting meaning", or "interpreting significance" depending on the context.

How does "inferring meaning" differ from "stating meaning"?

"Inferring meaning" involves deducing or drawing conclusions, while "stating meaning" involves explicitly expressing or defining something. One is implicit, the other explicit.

What are some contexts where "inferring meaning" is particularly relevant?

"Inferring meaning" is particularly relevant in contexts like literary analysis, data interpretation, and understanding social cues, where understanding is not always directly stated.