Introduction to Inference identifiers
The language in which an argument is presented often contains words or phrase to help identify its parts, especially its premises and conclusion. These words and phrases are identifiers of the function played in the argument. Unfortunately, identifiers are only as precise as the persons using them, and both the individual making an argument and the one evaluating it are liable to make mistakes by inexact or sloppy use of identifiers. Since the purpose of an argument is to communicate an idea clearly, the careful use and interpretation of identifiers is an important skill for critical thinking.
The following are some of the most common premise and conclusion identifiers:
| Premise identifiers: | Conclusion identifiers: | ||||||||
| since | therefore | ||||||||
| for | thus | ||||||||
| because | so | ||||||||
| supposing that | as a result | ||||||||
| given that | consequently | ||||||||
| assuming that | we can conclude that |
These are only a few of the words and phrases commonly used to identify premises and conclusions. In addition, keep in mind that:
- some of these words can also appear within the context of an argument, but without indicating an inference. "So," for example, has several meanings, only one of which is a synonym for "therefore."
- sloppy usage may produce confusing identifiers. A common answer to the question, "What would you think if the sky suddenly clouded up and turned very dark," is "I would assume it was going to rain." Yet "it is going to rain" here is a conclusion, not an assumption or premise.
- "if" and "then" are often used to identify premises and conclusions, respectively. However, "if" and "then" are also used to introduce the two halves of a conditional premise. In either usage, "then" is sometimes omitted; and it has other meanings, as well.
- an identifier may not immediately precede or follow the word or phrase whose function it is indicating. For example, in the sentence "Thus, whenever the sun rises, the rooster crows," there are two claims: a premise, "the sun rises," and a conclusion identified by "thus" (but not immediately following it), "the rooster crows."
- in cases where there are no identifiers, the most frequent order is conclusion first, followed by one or both premises. If both premises are given, they are often conjoined with "and" or "but." For example, "I like Mozart. I like most classical composers, and Mozart was a classical composer."