An inference is an idea that the speakers or writers do not state openly, intend you to understand anyway By their words, they suggest something. From their words, "to infer something (or draw a conclusion) The traditional difference between "to imply" and infer" is that "imply" refers to what a statement means, usually to a meaning not specifically stated but included in the original statement, whereas infer is used for a listener's or reader's judgement or inference based on the statement. Sometimes the inference is obvious In fact, the act of speaking or writing seldom avoids inference completely. Very seldom are we presented with surface facts only. Almost automatically we look behind, under or ahead of the simple facts