‘Imply’ vs. ‘infer’: when to use which

What does ‘imply’ mean?

The word “imply” is a verb that means to express or suggest something in an indirect manner. In other words, if you’re implying something, you’re hinting at it. It comes from the Middle English words “implien” or “emplien,” which mean “to surround, entangle, or involve by inference.”¹ Here are some examples of how “imply” can be used in a sentence:

• In our meeting, my boss implied that she might be retiring soon.
• The article didn’t explicitly accuse the politician of a crime, but the journalist implied they’re guilty.
• The invitation didn’t say when the party would end, but the hosts implied it wouldn’t go all night.
• In an interview, the director implied that a sequel was coming soon.

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What does ‘infer’ mean?

The verb “infer” means to guess or come to a conclusion after examining evidence or information. It comes from the Latin word “inferre” which means to carry or bring into.² Here are some examples of how the word “infer” can be used in a sentence:

• My husband was the only one that was home this weekend, so I can infer that he was the one who ate all of the cookies.
• Based on his decreasing popularity, we can infer that he won’t be re-elected.
• I saw the dark clouds outside and can infer that it will rain soon.
• The children inferred their mother was making pasta when they saw a large pot of water boiling on the stove.

How to remember the difference between ‘imply’ and ‘infer’

One way you can remember the difference between the words “imply” and “infer” is to keep in mind that the speaker does the implying while the listener is the one who is inferring. When a speaker hints at something or beats around the bush, they are implying something. When a listener observes or makes an educated guess, they are inferring.

If you’re still struggling to remember the difference between “imply” and “infer,” consider making flashcards. This can help you memorize the difference between these two words. Repetition is key when it comes to remembering what words mean, so review your flashcards each day!

Learning the synonyms for “imply” and “infer” can also help you differentiate these two words. For example, you can remember that the word “hint” is a synonym for “imply,” while “deduce” or “conclude” are synonyms for “infer.” If synonyms help you learn the definitions of words more effectively, you can add these synonyms to your flashcards.

Why is it important to memorize the difference between ‘imply’ and ‘infer’?

It’s important to remember the difference between “infer” and “imply” because if you use one of the words incorrectly, spellcheck won’t pick up on the error. Spellcheck mostly looks for typos. It doesn’t look for the wrong word choice. Make sure you thoroughly proofread your work before submitting or publishing it.

Other words that are frequently confused

If you want to improve your writing, explore more words that are frequently confused:

• Less vs. fewer
• Imbed vs. embed
• Bring vs. take
• Borne vs. born
• Whomever vs. whoever
• Good vs. well

Now that you know the difference between “imply” and “infer,” you can use these words with confidence.

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