the figures suggest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the figures suggest" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when presenting data or statistics that imply a certain conclusion or trend. Example: "The figures suggest that there has been a significant increase in sales over the past quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The figures suggest otherwise.

The Guardian

And the figures suggest that he was right.

The Guardian - Sport

As the figures suggest, these approaches do not work well.

The Economist

"The figures suggest freekeh has huge potential," he says.

Independent

The figures suggest more women than men have been put off from applying to university.

The Guardian

Fewer children are also missing a month of school a year without permission, the figures suggest.

The Guardian

Today's children are getting a raw deal on pocket money, the figures suggest.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The figures suggest overall populations have fallen by more than half in the past 44 years.

The Guardian

Despite these benefits, the figures suggest fewer applications for variations compared to straight law.

The Guardian

The figures suggest that the Lib Dems have been taking support from the Tories.

The Guardian

The figures suggest buyers are being particularly cautious because of the uncertainty created by the CSR.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "the figures suggest", ensure the figures are clearly presented and easily accessible to your audience to support your claim.

Common error

Avoid using "the figures suggest" to present a definitive conclusion when the data only provides a possible indication. Instead, acknowledge the potential for alternative interpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the figures suggest" functions as an introductory expression, indicating that numerical data is being presented to support a subsequent claim or inference. This is supported by the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the figures suggest" is a frequently used and grammatically correct phrase employed to introduce conclusions or interpretations derived from numerical data. Ludwig's analysis of numerous examples reveals its common usage in news and media, as well as in scientific contexts, where it serves to objectively present data-driven inferences. Although the phrase is considered correct, it is important to make sure to be cautious about overstating the certainty of the suggestion. Based on Ludwig's assessment, alternative phrases like "the data indicates" or "the statistics imply" can be used to convey similar meanings, each with slight nuances in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the data indicates

Replaces "figures" with "data", focusing on the information itself rather than the numerical representation.

the statistics imply

Substitutes "suggest" with "imply", emphasizing a logical consequence or inference drawn from the statistics.

the numbers reveal

Replaces "figures" with "numbers" and "suggest" with "reveal", highlighting the disclosure of information by the numerical data.

the evidence points to

Shifts from numerical data to broader "evidence", suggesting a direction or conclusion supported by the evidence.

the analysis indicates

Focuses on the analytical process, stating that the analysis leads to a certain conclusion.

the results demonstrate

Replaces "suggest" with "demonstrate", indicating a stronger and more definitive conclusion based on the results.

the findings imply

Similar to "the statistics imply", but uses "findings" to refer to the outcomes of a study or investigation.

the trends indicate

Highlights trends within the data as the basis for suggesting a particular outcome or direction.

the calculations show

Focuses on the process of calculation leading to a specific conclusion or result.

based on these figures, it appears that

Introduces a more cautious and tentative tone, acknowledging that the conclusion is based on the available figures but might not be definitive.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "the figures suggest" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you can use phrases like "the data indicates", "the statistics imply", or "the analysis reveals".

Is "the figures suggest" always appropriate to use?

While generally correct, ensure that the figures genuinely support the suggestion you are making. Avoid using the phrase if the connection is weak or speculative.

What's the difference between "the figures suggest" and "the figures prove"?

"The figures suggest" indicates a possibility or likelihood based on the data, while "the figures prove" implies a definitive and conclusive result. "The figures suggest" is more appropriate when there could be other interpretations or contributing factors.

Can I use "the figures suggest" when referring to qualitative data?

"The figures suggest" is generally used with quantitative data (numerical figures). For qualitative data, phrases like "the analysis reveals", or "the data indicates" may be more suitable.