How do 'infer' and 'imply' relate in reading?

• A. To infer is to make an outright claim; to imply is to provide evidence.
• B. To infer is to state a fact; to imply is to declare.
• C. To infer is to draw a conclusion from evidence; to imply is to suggest something by the author.
• D. To infer is to summarize; to imply is to paraphrase.

Answer: (C)

When you read, you often use clues in the text to reach a conclusion—that’s inferring. Inferring means the reader draws a conclusion from evidence the author provides, even if the author doesn’t spell it out. Implied meaning, on the other hand, comes from the author hinting at something without stating it directly; the reader picks up on that hint and understands a deeper meaning.

So, infer = you use details from the text to conclude something that isn’t stated outright. Imply = the author suggests something through hints, tone, or details, not by saying it plainly. For example, if a story describes dark clouds, a cold wind, and a character pulling their coat tighter, you might infer that a storm is coming or that the mood is tense. If the author writes that a character says “I’m fine” while avoiding eye contact and walking away, they are implying trouble in the relationship without saying it directly.

The other descriptions mix up who is doing the suggesting or confuse actions with other reading tasks (like summarizing or paraphrasing), so they don’t fit as well.