Imply vs. Infer

Welcome to the Grammar Minute, where we’re saving the English language sixty seconds at a time! I’m Lauren Smyth, and if you’re listening to this podcast, you probably already know what I’m about to tell you. Imply and infer do not mean the same thing. Let’s say we’re having a conversation about who ate the last cookie. I’m not going to come right out and say you did it, but I might strongly imply that you did. From my passive-aggressive statements, you would infer that I think you did it. Later, when we discover crumbs on the floor leading to the dog bed, we can both infer that neither of us took the last cookie. When I make a statement, I imply. When you receive the statement, you infer. These terms are not interchangeable and don’t mean the same thing, though they are naturally closely related. That’s your Grammar Minute! Visit thegrammarminute.com for more tips and tricks.