Inferring Vs Inferencing

So, the other day, my friend Mark—bless his heart—announces at dinner, “I was inferencing that you guys might want pizza.” I nearly choked on my water. I looked at him, then at the group, and just said, “...You were what now?” He doubled down, looking proud. “Yeah, I was inferencing from the way you were staring at the menu.”

That’s when I realized we have a crisis on our hands, folks. Not a big, world-ending crisis. But a tiny, grammatical one that drives people like me strangely insane. The word Mark used—inferencing—isn’t exactly wrong, but it’s like wearing a tuxedo to a backyard barbecue. It’s just… extra.

The real word we’re looking for? It’s inferring. You know, the normal, everyday gerund. “I am inferring by the empty pizza box that you were hungry.” See? Smooth. Simple. No unnecessary syllables cluttering up the joint.

But inferencing? That’s a different beast entirely. It’s a noun, technically. A fancy, academic noun used in fields like AI, linguistics, and computer science. It refers to the process of drawing conclusions, usually by a machine. Your phone uses “inferencing” to predict your next word. You, a human, should probably just stick to “inferring.”

Let’s be honest: language is a living thing. It morphs and stretches like an old t-shirt. But sometimes, we grab the wrong t-shirt from the drawer. Inferencing is that t-shirt you bought for a 90s themed party and then insisted on wearing to work. It doesn’t fit.

Why do people say it? I think it’s because “inferencing” sounds smarter. It has that extra “-ing” snap. It’s the same reason people say “conversate” instead of “converse.” They think they’re upgrading the word, when really, they’re just adding a broken headlight. Don’t be that car.

Here’s the kicker: you can actually find “inferencing” in some dictionaries now. Does that make it “correct”? Technically, yes. But so is “irregardless,” and we all side-eye that word at parties. Just because a word exists doesn’t mean you have to use it in casual conversation.

Observations vs Inferences Chart | Math = Love

Think of it this way: you wouldn’t say “I’m doing some walkancing to the store.” You walk. You don’t “walkance.” So why say you’re “inferencing” when you could just be inferring? It’s about elegance. It’s about not sounding like a robot.

The Classic Mix-Up

Oh, and while we’re here, let’s address the elephant in the room: infer vs. imply. These two are siblings that everyone confuses. It’s a whole family drama. The speaker implies—they drop a hint. The listener infers—they pick up that hint.

So if Mark had said, “I implied pizza,” he’d be right. If he said, “I inferred pizza,” he’d also be right—just a different perspective. But “inferencing” is like trying to combine both words into one. It’s a Frankenstein’s monster of grammar. It works, but it’s ugly.

Why This Matters (Or Doesn’t)

Look, I’m not the word police. I have typos in my texts too. But this little distinction? It’s a fun, nerdy hill I’ll die on. It’s the difference between saying “I could care less” (which means you do care) and “I couldn’t care less” (which means you don’t). Precision is a joy.

7 Types of Inference (2024) - Worksheets Library

Using “inferring” instead of “inferencing” makes you sound human. It shows you trust the language you already know. You don’t need to slap extra syllables on it to make it fancy. Your brain is already a supercomputer—let it do the work inferring naturally.

So next time you catch yourself about to say “I’m inferencing,” just pause. Breathe. And say the shorter, warmer version: “I’m inferring.” Your friends might not notice. But I will. And I’ll silently nod at you from across the room, like a weird grammar ninja.

Let’s make a pact. Unless you’re coding a chatbot or writing a thesis on machine learning, avoid “inferencing.” Use “inferring.” It’s simpler, it’s correct, and it won’t make your English teacher cry. Deal?

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m inferring that my coffee is cold by the lack of steam. No “inferencing” needed. Just good, clean, logical deduction. Cheers.