make an indication

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make an indication" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when you want to express the act of signaling or pointing out something, but it is better to use more standard expressions. Example: "The teacher made an indication of the correct answer by highlighting it on the board."

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Emphatically, Spencer-Brown (1969, Chap. 1) proposed such a procedure as the basis of all cognitive activity: "We take as given the idea of distinction and the idea of indication, and that we cannot make an indication without drawing a distinction".

SEP

Often when a dog does make an indication, it's found to be a false positive.

Vice

It was unclear why some cars were searched and others weren't, as the sniffer dogs did not always make an indication before a car was pulled apart by the cops.

Vice

Punters heading to Above & Beyond festival in Sydney this Saturday will be removed from the venue if drug dogs "make an indication" toward them, regardless of whether they actually have drugs or not.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Today, a representative of Brookfield made an indication to our financial advisor that they were prepared to offer $2.50 cash plus the entire Yabucoa Project to be spun out into a new public company for the benefit of the existing Western Wind shareholders.

Forbes

"Now, by signing LeBron, you're already making an indication that you wanna win now.

Los Angeles Times

"He didn't make any indication that he wanted a penalty," Neilson said.

BBC

At that time, he did not make any indication that he was under any duress.

The New York Times

This interpretation does make an assumption that indication can be defined by dose alone and so is somewhat speculative as this is not a perfect measure.

British Journal of Cancer

Consumers are borrowing or dipping into their savings to make purchases, "an indication that people have a lot of confidence in the future of the economy," said Joel Naroff, chief economist at Naroff Economic Advisors in Holland, Pa.

The New York Times

The Philippines also made an informal indication of its plans to cut its carbon emissions by 70% by 2030 but only if it receives financial assistance, a presidential aide told Reuters news agency on Friday.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "make an indication", consider if a more specific verb like "signal", "suggest", or "reveal" might be more precise and impactful for your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "make an indication" as a default phrase when a more descriptive verb would provide clarity. For example, instead of saying "The data made an indication of a trend", specify what the data showed or revealed about the trend.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make an indication" functions as a verb phrase, where "make" acts as a light verb and "indication" is the noun that carries the semantic weight. It typically introduces a signal or a clue about something, as suggested by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Academia

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make an indication" is a verb phrase used to subtly suggest or hint at something. While grammatically acceptable, as validated by Ludwig, it's not the most common or impactful choice in many contexts. Ludwig's AI suggests considering more specific verbs for clarity. Its usage spans across neutral registers, appearing in news, science, and academic writing. Alternatives like "give a sign" or "provide a hint" may offer more directness or precision. The phrase's function is to offer a clue, inviting the audience to infer the full conclusion, rather than explicitly stating it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

give a sign

Focuses on the act of providing a signal or clue, differing from a general indication.

show a sign

Similar to "give a sign", it implies displaying a visible or noticeable signal.

offer a clue

Emphasizes providing a hint that can lead to solving a problem or understanding a situation.

provide a hint

Implies offering a subtle suggestion or clue, making it less direct than a straightforward indication.

signal intent

Specifically refers to communicating one's purpose or plans, making it less general than "make an indication".

express intent

Highlights the communication of a specific purpose or plan, narrower than a general indication.

demonstrate evidence

Highlights providing proof or support, which is a stronger assertion than simply making an indication.

hint at

Indicates a subtle or indirect suggestion, making it less explicit than "make an indication".

suggest

Implies a less forceful assertion, offering something for consideration rather than a definitive statement.

intimate

Implies communicating subtly or indirectly, often about sensitive or private matters.

FAQs

What does "make an indication" mean?

To "make an indication" means to give a sign, hint, or suggestion about something, often without stating it directly. It implies pointing something out indirectly.

How can I use "make an indication" in a sentence?

You can use "make an indication" when you want to express the act of signaling something. For example: "The results "give an indication" of potential issues."

What can I say instead of "make an indication"?

You can use alternatives like "give a sign", "provide a hint", or "suggest" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "make an indication" or "give an indication"?

"Give an indication" is generally more common and natural-sounding than "make an indication". Both are acceptable, but the former is often preferred in everyday language.