Used and loved by millions

Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

it's hinted at
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Alternative expressions(8)

it is suggested

it is alluded to

it is indicated

it is intimated

it was touched upon

evidence points to

it is foreshadowed

it's mentioned

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Those who would do the least, it's hinted at, are in the grips of wishful thinking (or too politically paralysed to go for anything else).

News & Media

The Economist

This is the dichotomy that "Birdman" runs on, and it's hinted at in "Seymour: An Introduction," when Bernstein explains that his concert is being held "for Ethan's theatre group".

News & Media

The New Yorker

In fact, it's hinted at premium features for some time.

News & Media

TechCrunch

It's hinted at from the beginning, but it is impossible to ignore on Blue Eyes and Staircase.

News & Media

BBC

It's hinted at.

News & Media

Huffington Post

It's hinted at that the Toys lose all life when put away in "storage" unless they are in a museum that will get them seen by humans.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

This too is one of the story's unsurprising aspects, and it is hinted at very early.

News & Media

The New York Times - Books

He added he was surprised that Wonder Woman's bisexuality was still under question when it was hinted at in some instalments of her story.

News & Media

The Guardian - Books

It was hinted at this week by Adam Posen, retiring member of the Bank's monetary policy committee, in criticising his colleagues for their "anguished religious ethics" over quantitative easing.

News & Media

The Guardian - Opinion

It is hinted at in the show through several of the designer Peter de Sève's drawings of the movies' fiercer characters.

News & Media

The New York Times

It was hinted at several times that he would be better off leaving the country, but he decided to stay.

News & Media

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place the phrase at the beginning of a clause to set expectations for the indirect information that follows.

Common error

Do not confuse the contraction 'it's' (it is/it has) with the possessive pronoun 'its'. Writing 'its hinted at' is a common orthographic error that changes the grammatical meaning entirely.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

92%

Authority and reliability

4.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it's hinted at" serves as a passive voice construction using a dummy subject ('it') to introduce information indirectly. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it often functions as a sentence-initial or clause-initial marker that softens the certainty of the statement that follows.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

Social Media

Reference

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "it's hinted at" is a versatile and grammatically correct passive construction used to convey information subtly. It is widely utilized across prestigious news outlets and occasionally in scientific literature to manage levels of certainty. Ludwig AI shows that while it is not the most common phrase, it is highly effective for maintaining a sophisticated and objective tone. Writers should be careful to include the preposition 'at' and avoid confusing the contraction with its possessive counterpart. When seeking more variety, alternatives like "it is suggested" can be used to elevate the formality further.

More alternative expressions(10)

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is suggested

Provides a slightly more formal and cautious tone than the main phrase.

it's implied

Focuses more on the logical inference rather than just a casual hint.

it is alluded to

More literary and formal, often used when referring to outside works or history.

there are hints

Shifts the focus from the action of hinting to the existence of the hints themselves.

it is indicated

Implies more objective or factual evidence than a mere hint.

it is intimated

A very formal and somewhat dated alternative for conveying information subtly.

it's signaled

Suggests a more deliberate or structural way of conveying a message.

it was touched upon

Indicates the subject was mentioned briefly without going into detail.

evidence points to

Much stronger and more assertive than a subtle hint.

it is foreshadowed

Specific to narrative contexts where an event is suggested before it happens.

FAQs

How do I use "it's hinted at" in a sentence?

You can use it to introduce a subtle theme or an unofficial report, for example: "While the budget wasn't discussed, "it's hinted at" that cuts are coming."

What can I say instead of "it's hinted at"?

Depending on the tone you want, you can use "it is suggested", "it's implied" or "it is alluded to" for a more formal approach.

Is "it's hinted at" formal or informal?

It is generally neutral. It is frequently seen in high-quality journalism such as The New Yorker and The Economist, making it suitable for professional and semi-formal writing.

What is the difference between "it's hinted at" and "it's hinted"?

The version without 'at' is usually grammatically incomplete in this context. The verb 'hint' is intransitive when it means to give a hint, but it needs the preposition 'at' to link to the thing being suggested.

Editing plus AI, all in one place.

Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.

Continue with Googlefor free

Continue with emailfor free

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Source & Trust

92%

Authority and reliability

4.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences:

1-200 1k 2k 3k 4k 5k 7k 10k 20k 40k 100k 200k 500k 0m-3 0m-4 1m-1 1m-2 1m-3 1m-4

it's hinted atGrammar usage guide and real-world examples

it's hinted at
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples