Imply or Infer - Untangling The Differences

Imply or Infer: Untangling Two Tricky Twins in Communication

The English words, imply and infer are often confused because they both relate to unspoken communication and drawing conclusions. However, they are two words with distinct roles in how we send and receive messages.

Have you ever been in a conversation where someone says, are you implying...? and you think, no, I'm just telling you the facts! Or perhaps you've heard someone say, I infer that you're upset, when they really mean, you implied you were upset.

Let's examine these two words, explain their differences with examples, and show when to use them.

Imply is the Act of Hinting

To imply means to suggest something indirectly, without explicitly stating it. It's an action performed by a speaker or writer. When you imply something, you're putting a hint or a suggestion into your message, leaving it for the listener or reader to determine your intended meaning.

Think of it like dropping a subtle clue or weaving a meaning into your words without directly spelling it out.

Examples of Implying

• Your friend sighs dramatically, looks at their watch, and says, wow, it's getting really late. What they are implying is that they want you to leave. Let me put this another way. You hear your friend say, wow, it's getting really late, and you see them look at their watch. You infer from their words and actions that they are tired and would like you to leave.

  
  

• A job advertisement states, candidates must be highly motivated and self-starters. What it implies is that he company expects employees to work independently and take initiative without constant supervision. It doesn't explicitly say we won't micromanage you, but it hints at that work culture. Similarly, you read the job advertisement and see candidates must be highly motivated and self-starters. You infer that the company values autonomy and expects employees to be proactive.

Infer is the Act of Deducing

To infer means to draw a conclusion or make an educated guess based on evidence, reasoning, or what has been implied. It's an action performed by the listener or reader. When you infer, you're taking information from a message and forming an understanding.

This is where you are actually using your thinking skills. You're connecting the dots, reading between the lines, and arriving at an understanding or a judgement.

The key difference between imply and infer is to think of it as who is doing what. The easiest way to remember the distinction is to focus on who is performing the action.

• Imply = hints

• Infer = deduces

Think of it like a game of charades. The person acting out the word is implying it through their gestures. The person guessing the word is inferring it from those gestures.

Why Does It Matter?

Using the word imply and infer correctly enhances clarity in your communication. Misusing them leads to misunderstandings, where you might inadvertently accuse someone of saying something they didn't, or you might fail to convey your own message effectively.

So, the next time you're crafting a message or trying to decipher one, take a moment to consider, is something being implied, or are you inferring a conclusion?

Mastering these two English words will make you a more precise and impactful communicator.

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