How many errors do you spot in these two sentences?
1. In his remarks at the all-staff meeting, our CEO inferred that a new vacation policy would go into effect in July 2015.
2. Based on my neighbor’s description of the resort and its surroundings, I’m inferring we’ll find a new trail to hike every day.
Yes, “all-staff” should be hyphenated in #1, “effect” (not “affect”) is correct, and writing “July 2015” without a comma is correct because there is no date – just a month and year. In #2, yes, “its” without an apostrophe and “every day” as two words are right. So what’s wrong?
The only error is “inferred” in the first sentence. It should be “implied” (or “hinted,” “suggested,” etc.). Let’s review.
“Infer” and “imply” are fraternal twins, not identical twins. They go together, in a way, but they’re not interchangeable. When you imply you express something ambiguously – either purposely or inadvertently – and then the recipient of your message needs to infer what you meant.
The common error is using “infer” instead of “imply,” as in this example: Are you inferring that I’m not qualified for the position? Here, the speaker or writer is using the wrong twin. The question should be Are you implying that I’m not qualified for the position?” But there is some inferring going on, right? The speaker or writer is inferring (interpreting, concluding, etc.) that someone is doubting his or her qualifications.
So when we make an inference are we on the sending or receiving end of a message? We are receiving. We are inferring – or deciphering or surmising – something that was not expressed clearly or fully. It was implied.
You can think of “imply” and “infer” as fraternal twins, or it might be more helpful to think of them as an elegant pen and pencil set. They go together neatly, but each has its distinct purpose.
In addition to presenting workshops on writing in the workplace, Norm Friedman is a writer, editor, and writing coach. His 100+ Instant Writing Tips is a brief “non-textbook” to help individuals overcome common writing errors and write with more finesse and impact. Learn more at http://www.normfriedman.com/index.shtml.