PRESENTATION OUTLINE
The words imply and infer are often confused and misused. However, their meanings are nearly opposite.
Here’s what you need to know to use them correctly:
Imply means to express indirectly, to hint,
to indicate.
Examples:
“What is that supposed to mean?” asked Logan.
“Are you implying that I cheated?”
The puzzled look on Lisa’s face implied that
she wasn’t expecting me.
Infer means to come to a conclusion based on the evidence presented, to guess, to surmise.
Examples:
“I infer from that remark that you think I cheated,” said Logan.
I inferred from the puzzled look on Lisa’s face that she wasn’t expecting me.
Christina winked, implying/inferring that she was in on the joke.
Joshua looked out the window and saw that most people were wearing short sleeves; he implied/inferred that it was warm outside.
It’s often possible to imply/infer the meaning of an unfamiliar word from other information in the sentence.
Implying/Inferring that I should help him pack the car, my dad said, “We’d probably get on the road faster if I didn’t have to pack all of this myself.”
The cliff-hanger at the end of the movie implies/infers that Andy’s adventures are not over.
I implied/inferred from Nora’s message—“Call me the second you get this!”— that Nora had big news.
Based on the sports clothes that Kyle was wearing, I ________________ that he was about to go to soccer practice.
Jorge ________________ from Elise’s bored expression that she was not enjoying the movie
Staring into the almost-empty pizza box, Tara reminded Neil of the time she let him have the last cupcake. “Are you
__________________ that I should let you have the last slice of pizza?” Neil asked.
