imply
verb
to suggest indirectly
“Are you implying I was late?”
Easily mixed meanings
imply vs infer
The speaker implies (suggests without saying); the listener infers (works it out).
infer
verb
to conclude from evidence
“From her smile, I inferred she had passed.”
Try it: which word fits?
Drop each word into the blank. The explanation tells you why one works and the other doesn't.
His tone ______ that he was annoyed.
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Questions about imply vs infer
What is the difference between imply and infer?
The speaker implies (suggests without saying); the listener infers (works it out).
How do I remember imply vs infer?
Imply goes out from the speaker; infer comes in to the listener.
Are there exceptions?
Using infer to mean imply is common in speech but still marked as an error by most style guides.
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