What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
infer
Example
From the tone of his voice, I inferred that he was angry. [inferred: past tense verb]
Example
Based on the data, we can infer that the product is popular. [infer: present tense verb]
gather
Example
I need to gather more information before making a decision. [gather: verb]
Example
Let's gather all the materials we need before starting the project. [gather: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Gather is more commonly used than infer in everyday language. Gather is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while infer is less common and is typically used in more formal or technical settings.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between infer and gather?
Infer is generally considered more formal than gather. It is often used in academic or technical writing, while gather can be used in both formal and informal contexts.