Mistake: Imply vs Infer

imply = suggest; infer = deduce.

Examples

• He implied it. I inferred it.

Key rules

• Imply means suggest indirectly; the speaker implies something
• Infer means reach a conclusion from evidence; the listener infers something
• The speaker implies and the listener infers

Common mistakes

• I implied from her words that he was lying → I inferred from her words that he was lying
• The speaker implies, and the listener infers

Use cases

• Discussing meaning in texts
• Conversations
• Writing critical analysis