Imply and Infer

Many people think that the verbs "imply and infer" mean the same thing (have the same meanings), but noooooo, they do not.

<em>Who implies and who infers?</em>

Writers/Speakers imply

Readers/Listeners infer

<em>How can one remember which is which?</em>

Imply

You apply for a job - You comply with a rule - You reply to an email - You imply something.

When a writer or speaker implies something, they are suggesting something but not saying it specifically or forthrightly.

For example:

1. When the police arrived they saw a man holding a knife and standing beside the dead body.
This observation suggests/makes one think/implies that the man with the knife is the murderer.

2. You asked your friend, "Do you like to eat seafood?" Your friend answered, "It's not my favourite food."

Your friend did not give you a clear answer - a yes or no answer.

Your friend implied/suggested/hinted that he/she does not seafood.

The implication (n) was that he/she does not really like seafood or maybe does not like seafood at all.

Infer

Infer comes from a Latin word that means “to bring in... so an inference (n) comes into your mind/your mind infers something - similar to interpreting some information.

The noun 'inference' refers to the process of using observation, background knowledge and analysis of the circumstances or information that's available to imagine, guess, or arrive at a conclusion that makes sense.

For example:

1. The police infered that the man holding the knife, may have been/could have been/might have been the murderer.

2. You friend infered/imagined/thought/guessed that seafood was not his/her friend's favourite food."

<em>Why are these two simple verbs important?</em>

Most ESL examinations ask questions about implications and inferences in the Reading and Comprehension sections of an IELTS or TOFEL examination.