it may infer

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it may infer" is not correct in standard English usage.
The correct term would be "it may imply," as "infer" is typically used to describe the act of deducing information from evidence, while "imply" refers to suggesting something indirectly. Example: "The data presented in the report may imply a need for further research."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Depending on what you read, being part of the "snowflake generation" may be as benign as taking selfies or talking about feelings too much, or it may infer a sense of entitlement, an untamed narcissism, or a form of identity politics that is resistant to free speech.

The Guardian

It matters not what the risk factor is, merely that it may infer additional mortality compared to the baseline mortality rates derived from the entire cohort.

Plosone

Although it may infer reverse causation, other study has also reported that the adequate training programs for CHWs improve their performance [ 29].

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

On the face of it, therefore, one may infer that variation is not large enough to establish the effects of the very mechanism we are testing for in the first place.

BMC Ecology

When there is no desired information available for a particular molecule, one may infer it from its structural analogues that have relevant information.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Carboxylate peaks obscure any possible litharge detection in Figure 2 and SR-XRD is unable to detect monolayers of lead oxide so we cannot deduce its involvement in the mechanism of formation, but we may infer it.

Heritage Science

Intuitively, since the 450K array has a reduced representation, DMRs called from it that have flanking regions may infer nearby true DM, detectable by WGBS, where the 450K probe coverage is sparse.

Epigenetics and Chromatin

From the hair alone you may infer the Donald.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

From these results it may be inferred that SF shows its reactivity at later stage of hydration (Fig. 6).

International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials

It may be inferred that the CaSR regulates bone mass through its effect on the parathyroid glands to produce PTH, and through its effect on C-cells of the thyroid to produce calcitonin.

BMC Physiology

It may be inferred from this that Palin sees a certain parallel between the events of July 3, 2009, and those of July 4, 1776.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "imply" when indicating that something suggests a conclusion. Reserve "infer" for the act of drawing a conclusion from evidence.

Common error

Avoid using "infer" when you mean to suggest something. "Infer" describes the listener's action, not the speaker's or the information's. Instead, use "imply", "suggest", or "indicate" when you want to show that something hints at a conclusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it may infer" functions as an incorrect attempt to express a potential implication or suggestion. Ludwig AI notes that the correct usage involves using "imply" instead of "infer" when something hints at a conclusion.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

67%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it may infer" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. As Ludwig AI clarifies, the correct term is "it may imply", as "infer" describes the act of drawing a conclusion, while "imply" describes suggesting something indirectly. Given that the contexts where the phrase appears are in scientific and news media, replacing "it may infer" with alternatives like "it may imply", "it might suggest", or "it could indicate" is crucial to maintain clarity and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it may imply

Replaces "infer" with "imply", which is the correct verb to use when something suggests a conclusion without stating it directly.

it might suggest

Substitutes "may" with "might" and "infer" with "suggest" to convey a possibility or hint.

it could indicate

Replaces "may infer" with "could indicate", expressing a potential sign or signal.

it might lead one to believe

Rephrases the idea to focus on the conclusion a person might draw, rather than the direct implication.

one might deduce from it

Restructures the sentence to emphasize the act of deduction based on the information.

it can be interpreted as

Focuses on the interpretation of the information, rather than the direct inference.

the evidence suggests

Shifts the focus to the evidence itself implying the conclusion.

it seems to point to

Uses a more figurative expression to convey that something suggests a particular conclusion.

the implication is

Directly states that an implication exists, without specifying who is inferring.

it hints at

Uses a more subtle verb to suggest that something is implied indirectly.

FAQs

What is the difference between "it may infer" and "it may imply"?

"It may infer" is grammatically incorrect. "Infer" means to deduce something from evidence, while "imply" means to suggest something without explicitly stating it. Therefore, the correct phrase is "it may imply".

What can I say instead of "it may infer"?

Since "it may infer" is incorrect, you can use phrases like "it may imply", "it might suggest", or "it could indicate" depending on the context.

Is "it may infer" grammatically correct?

No, "it may infer" is not grammatically correct. The correct verb to use in this context is "imply". The phrase should be "it may imply".

How to correct the sentence when I intend to use "it may infer"?

Replace "infer" with "imply" to correct the sentence. For example, instead of "it may infer a sense of entitlement", use "it may imply a sense of entitlement".