what does it indicate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what does it indicate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when asking for clarification or interpretation of a particular sign, symbol, or piece of information. Example: "The data shows a significant increase in sales this quarter. What does it indicate about our marketing strategy?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

But what kind of local knowledge is in supply, and what does it indicate?

The New York Times - Books

What does it indicate about the musical curiosity of, say, a young European violinist when the artist makes a New York debut with works by Bach, Beethoven, Debussy and Paganini?

The New York Times - Arts

But even if we limit ourselves to reasonable interpretations of "absolute," what does it indicate if the ratio of X Y just doesn't matter?

Huffington Post

What does it indicate to those hoping to induce more productive networked structures, and apply that knowledge to healthcare?

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Yet, nowhere in the paper or the supplementary data does it indicate what methods they used for determining age-at-death of any of the material they examined.

Plosone

"With regard to this issue about blood in the trajectory of a bullet... What does that indicate to you?" Martinez asked.

Huffington Post

What does this indicate?

eLife

Reflection is a metacognitive process which allows the individual to learn from past experiences [ 19], but what does this indicate?

BMC Medical Education

What does the color indicate about your depiction?

The New York Times

What does the theory indicate should be happening in a child's life at each stage.

The New York Times

Research on tokophobia is relatively sparse, but what does exist indicates that symptoms largely match my experience but vary in severity.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "what does it indicate" when you want to understand the specific message or signal conveyed by a particular observation or data point. For example, "The patient's elevated heart rate – what does it indicate about their overall health?"

Common error

Avoid using "what does it indicate" in situations where a more direct question like "what does it mean" would suffice. The phrase is most effective when probing for nuanced implications.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what does it indicate" functions as an interrogative expression used to elicit an explanation or interpretation of a particular sign, event, or piece of data. Ludwig's examples show it's used to probe for the underlying meaning or significance.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what does it indicate" is a grammatically sound interrogative phrase used to ask for the interpretation or significance of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a valid and useful expression. While not extremely common, it appears across various contexts, most notably in News & Media and Scientific publications, reflecting its utility in analytical discourse. It is important to use this phrase when seeking a deeper understanding of implications, rather than settling for simple definitions. Related alternatives include "what does it imply" and "what does it signify", offering subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what does it suggest

Focuses on the implied meaning or hint provided by something, rather than a direct indication.

what does it imply

Emphasizes the indirect or subtle message conveyed by something.

what does it signify

Highlights the symbolic meaning or importance of something.

what does it mean

Explores the overall definition or understanding of something.

what does it represent

Asks about the symbolic or figurative meaning.

what are the implications

Shifts the focus to the potential consequences or effects.

what conclusion can be drawn

Focuses on the logical inferences that can be made.

what is the significance

Emphasizes the importance or relevance of something.

what can we infer from it

Focuses on deriving conclusions from the subject matter.

what does it portend

Emphasizes a prediction of future events.

FAQs

What is a more formal way to ask "what does it indicate"?

More formal alternatives include "what does it signify?", "what inferences can be drawn?", or "what are the implications of this?". These options add a layer of sophistication to your inquiry.

How can I rephrase "what does it indicate" to sound less direct?

Instead of a direct question, you could say, "I'm curious about the potential implications" or "I wonder what this suggests". These soften the inquiry while still seeking understanding.

When is it appropriate to use "what does it signify" instead of "what does it indicate"?

"What does it signify?" is best used when referring to something symbolic or representative, while "what does it indicate?" is suitable for more general implications or signals. For example, consider also using "what does it imply", depending on the context.

Is "what does it indicate" appropriate for academic writing?

Yes, "what does it indicate" is appropriate for academic writing when you need to explore the implications or interpretations of data, findings, or theoretical concepts. You may also use "what are the implications" for an alternative approach.