{"id":4110,"date":"2013-06-27T17:45:27","date_gmt":"2013-06-27T17:45:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/?page_id=4110"},"modified":"2026-03-26T10:33:02","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T15:33:02","slug":"inference","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/inference\/","title":{"rendered":"Inference"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t<div id=\"mmDeferVideoEncompass_RXP5FxnKOJM\" style=\"position: relative;\">\n\t\t\t<picture>\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.webp\" type=\"image\/webp\">\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"> \n\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" id=\"videoThumbnailImage_RXP5FxnKOJM\" data-source-videoID=\"RXP5FxnKOJM\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" alt=\"Inference Video\" height=\"464\" width=\"825\" class=\"size-full\" data-matomo-title = \"Inference\">\n\t\t\t<\/picture>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<style>img#videoThumbnailImage_RXP5FxnKOJM:hover {cursor:pointer;} img#videoThumbnailImage_RXP5FxnKOJM {background-size:contain;background-image:url(\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/776-inference-2.webp\");}<\/style>\n\t\t\t<script defer>\n\t\t\t  jQuery(\"img#videoThumbnailImage_RXP5FxnKOJM\").click(function() {\n\t\t\t\tlet videoId = jQuery(this).attr(\"data-source-videoID\");\n\t\t\t\tlet helpTag = '<div id=\"mmDeferVideoYTMessage_RXP5FxnKOJM\" style=\"display: none;position: absolute;top: -24px;width: 100%;text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-style: italic;font-size: small;border-top: 1px solid #fc0;\">Having trouble? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v='+videoId+'\" target=\"_blank\">Click here to watch on YouTube.<\/a><\/span><\/div>';\n\t\t\t\tlet tag = document.createElement(\"iframe\");\n\t\t\t\ttag.id = \"yt\" + videoId;\n\t\t\t\ttag.src = \"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/\" + videoId + \"?autoplay=1&controls=1&wmode=opaque&rel=0&egm=0&iv_load_policy=3&hd=0&enablejsapi=1\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.frameborder = 0;\n\t\t\t\ttag.allow = \"autoplay; fullscreen\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.width = this.width;\n\t\t\t\ttag.height = this.height;\n\t\t\t\ttag.setAttribute(\"data-matomo-title\",\"Inference\");\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_RXP5FxnKOJM\").html(tag);\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_RXP5FxnKOJM\").prepend(helpTag);\n\t\t\t\tsetTimeout(function(){jQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoYTMessage_RXP5FxnKOJM\").css(\"display\", \"block\");}, 2000);\n\t\t\t  });\n\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t\n<p><script>\nfunction gHI_Function() {\n  var x = document.getElementById(\"gHI\");\n  if (x.style.display === \"none\") {\n    x.style.display = \"block\";\n  } else {\n    x.style.display = \"none\";\n  }\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"moc-toc hide-on-desktop hide-on-tablet\">\n<div><button onclick=\"gHI_Function()\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/toc2.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"show or hide table of contents\"><\/button><\/p>\n<p>On this page<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<nav id=\"gHI\" style=\"display:none;\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#What_is_an_Inference_in_Reading\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">What is an Inference in Reading?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#What_is_an_Inference_in_Writing\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">What is an Inference in Writing?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Inference_Defined_and_Explained_PDF\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Inference Defined and Explained PDF<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"accordion\"><input id=\"transcript\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"transcript\">Transcript<\/label><input id=\"FAQs\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"FAQs\">FAQs<\/label><input id=\"factsheet\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"factsheet\">Fact Sheet<\/label>\n<div class=\"spoiler\" id=\"transcript-spoiler\">\n<p>Let\u2019s talk about inferences in reading and writing. An inference is a <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/identifying-a-logical-conclusion\/\">conclusion<\/a> reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning. First, we\u2019ll talk about how this can help improve your reading skills, then we\u2019ll talk about how you can apply it to your own writing.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"What_is_an_Inference_in_Reading\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>What is an Inference in Reading?<\/h2>\n<p>\nIf you\u2019re making an inference while reading, you\u2019re making a guess about what you don\u2019t know based on the information available\u2014basically, you\u2019re reading between the lines. You can use your prior knowledge and textual information to draw conclusions, make critical judgments, and form interpretations of the text. Inferences can occur in the form of conclusions, predictions, or new ideas.<\/p>\n<p>The easiest way to show this is with an example. Let\u2019s say I arrived at school but couldn\u2019t find my lesson plan. I knew I was reading it over breakfast, so I make the assumption that I left it on the kitchen table. This is an inference. I don\u2019t know for sure where I left it, but I\u2019m making an inference based on the fact that I know I was working on it at home.<\/p>\n<p>You make inferences every day. Maybe you are able to finish your friend\u2019s sentence because of the information they\u2019ve already given you. Maybe you predict the ending of a movie before it comes. Maybe you can tell what singer is on the radio based on the sound of their voice and the topic of their song. All of these are things you\u2019ve discovered based on <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/context\/\">surrounding facts<\/a>, not actual knowledge. All of these are inferences.<\/p>\n<p>Reading is an active, reflective, problem-solving process. You don\u2019t just want to read words, you also want to understand the deeper ideas the author is trying to communicate. When you\u2019re reading, it\u2019s helpful to look for patterns or relationships in the text that might shed greater light on the subject. Let\u2019s look at Harper Lee\u2019s classic <em>To Kill a Mockingbird<\/em> for an example of this:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\" style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cRemember, it\u2019s a sin to kill a mockingbird.\u201d That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it. \u201cYour father\u2019s right,\u201d she said. \u201cMockingbirds don\u2019t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy&#8230;that\u2019s why it\u2019s a sin to kill a mockingbird.&#8221;<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nThis inference helps us draw a connection between the mockingbird and Boo Radley\u2014the mockingbird is innocent and does nothing but make music. This is a symbol for the innocence of Boo, and highlights the thematic heart of the novel: those who have the power must protect the vulnerable. It\u2019s a beautiful inference, but you\u2019ll note it is never stated directly in the novel. It\u2019s a gem left to be discovered by the reader.<\/p>\n<p>Inferences can help with smaller practical reading comprehension problems, too. Sometimes, if you don\u2019t understand what a word means, you can infer its meaning from what\u2019s around it in the sentence. Take, for example, the following sentence:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\" style=\"text-align: left;\">She was gregarious, found always at one party or another around town surrounded by laughing people. Her door was always open.<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nEven if you didn\u2019t have a dictionary to tell you that <em>gregarious<\/em> means &#8220;a person who enjoys social gatherings and is fond of company,&#8221; you could glean as much from the description of the subject as someone who liked parties and whose door was \u201calways open.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"What_is_an_Inference_in_Writing\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>What is an Inference in Writing?<\/h2>\n<p>\nNow, let\u2019s talk about how you can work inferences into your own writing. <\/p>\n<p>Try this: practice writing a paragraph describing something you\u2019re familiar with\u2014your cat, a movie, a pineapple pizza\u2014without explicitly stating what it is. Then see if your friend can figure out what you\u2019re talking about without being told. If they can, they are making an inference.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll probably note that your writing is much more creative and engaging than it would have been if you simply stated what it was you were talking about. You have to work hard to describe the things you\u2019re familiar with in new words and phrases, and that makes your writing more interesting. Take a look at this example:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Half a dozen students huddled at the end of the street. It was 7:00 a.m., just moments before the bus was supposed to arrive, and the street light spilled around them in a pool of light. They shuffled back and forth to keep warm, rubbing their hands together and stamping their feet against the frozen pavement.<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nIf I were to ask you what season is described in this piece of writing, you\u2019d probably say \u201cwinter\u201d right away. We talked about cold temperatures and frozen pavement, plus it\u2019s still dark at 7:00 in the morning, which is distinctly a winter characteristic. You can see how writing for inference, in this case, was more imaginative and effective than simply saying, \u201cstudents waited in the cold winter for the bus.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To sum up, understanding inference can enrich your reading by helping you read between the lines for the author\u2019s intent. It can also enrich your writing by helping you paint vivid pictures without stating the facts directly.<\/p>\n<p>I hope this video has inspired you to use inferences in your own writing. Thanks for watching this review on inferences. We hope you feel prepped and empowered!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"spoiler\" id=\"FAQs-spoiler\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align:center\"><span id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<div class=\"faq-list\">\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">What is an inference?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>An inference is a conclusion that has been reached by way of evidence and reasoning. For example, if you notice someone making a disgusted face after they&#8217;ve taken a bite of their lunch, you can <strong>infer<\/strong> that they do not like it. If a friend walks by with a graded test in her hand and a smile on her face, you could <strong>infer<\/strong> that she got a good grade on the test.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">What is the difference between observation and inference?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>The difference between observation and inference is that an observation is simply something that you take in with your senses, while an inference uses those observations to make a decision about a thing, person, or event. For instance, you might observe a passerby in a hallway who is carrying an umbrella and leaving wet footprints on the floor. From these observations, you can infer that the person was recently outside and that it was raining when they were outside.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">How do you make an inference?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>You make inferences by using observations and experience to connect clues and ideas and come to some conclusion. For instance, if you see a woman pushing a baby stroller down the sidewalk, you can <strong>infer<\/strong> that there is a baby in the stroller. It is important to remember that making an inference is not the same as making a wild guess; you wouldn&#8217;t infer that a cactus or a lamp were in the stroller. To make inferences while you are reading, take two or more details from the text and try to connect them and draw a reasonable conclusion.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">What is an example of an inference?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>Here are some examples of inferences:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Alex had a frown on his face and was dragging his feet as he walked, so you can infer that he is having a bad day.<\/li>\n<li>Kim&#8217;s baby made a disgusted face after trying a new food, so you can infer that the baby does not like the new food.<\/li>\n<li>\u201cI&#8217;m excited to go back home,\u201d said Caleb as he pulled several large suitcases toward the car. From this sentence, you can infer that Caleb has been away from home for some time due to his excitement and the number of suitcases he&#8217;s carrying.<\/li>\n<li>Sam always orders a salad from his favorite restaurant, so you can infer that he will do the same the next time he goes there.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">What is the definition of inference?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>Inference is defined as a conclusion reached by way of evidence and reasoning.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"spoiler\" id=\"factsheet-spoiler\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align:center\"><span id=\"Inference_Defined_and_Explained_PDF\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Inference Defined and Explained PDF<\/h2>\n<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1361\" height=\"1766\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/image_2022-01-11_103413.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"A fact sheet titled &quot;Inference.&quot; It explains inference using text and examples about making predictions and word meanings. Includes definitions, examples, and conclusions. Banner for Mometrix Test Preparation.\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/image_2022-01-11_103413.png 1361w, https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/image_2022-01-11_103413-231x300.png 231w, https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/image_2022-01-11_103413-789x1024.png 789w, https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/image_2022-01-11_103413-768x997.png 768w, https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/image_2022-01-11_103413-1184x1536.png 1184w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1361px) 100vw, 1361px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"sub_categories\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Fact-Sheet-Inference.pdf\"><span id=\"Your_What_is_an_Inference_PDF_Download\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Your What is an Inference PDF Download<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"home-buttons\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/reading-comprehension\/\">Return to Reading Comprehension Videos<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Return to Reading Comprehension Videos<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":99907,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-4110","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"page_category-reading-comprehension-videos","7":"page_category-video-pages-for-study-course-sidebar-ad","8":"page_type-video","9":"content_type-fact-sheet","10":"subject_matter-english"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4110","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4110"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4110\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":281594,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4110\/revisions\/281594"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99907"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4110"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}