Inferences

You arrive home to discover your door open, glass on the floor, and your alarm ringing. Chances are someone has broken into your house.

What are inferences?

Inferences are guesses, or assumptions, which are based on facts or details. Writers will often leave out facts or details and expect you to infer the missing information. Writers may leave out details because they are minor details and most readers would infer the details. Writers may also leave out details as a way of forcing you to read carefully and slowly. Mystery novels often require its readers to make inferences.

How do I make inferences?

Before you can make an inference you need information. As you read, pay attention to the facts and details. If a character has behaved a specific way in a many situations, you can assume that they are likely to behave in the same way in the future. If a writer says that the road is slippery, water is dripping from a character’s head, and the sky is dark, it is reasonable to infer that it is raining.