Quote:
Originally Posted by tabs
The 2nd does infer that the INDIVIDUAL has the right to bear arms.
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sorry pet peeve of mine (and I know tabs loves grammar like he loves his spoons).
The 2nd *implies* that the individual has the right to bear arms. Tabs (or anyone else) *infers* that when they read it.
Good explanation of this:
Communication consists of a message, a sender, and a receiver. The
sender can imply, but the receiver can only infer. The error that usually occurs is that the word infer is mistakenly used for imply.
WRONG: Are you inferring that I am a fool?
RIGHT: Are you implying that I am a fool?
If someone gets the idea from your behavior that you are a fool, then he is inferring that you are a fool. But if he is subtly letting you know that he thinks so, then he is implying that you are a fool. You, of course, can infer from his implication that he thinks you are a fool.
IMPLY = to put the suggestion into the message (sender implies)
INFER = to take the suggestion out of the message (receiver infers)
IMPLICATION = what the sender has implied
INFERENCE = what the receiver has inferred