Learning English collocations can be a real game-changer for your fluency and confidence. Instead of just memorizing single words, understanding which words naturally go together will make your English sound more authentic and professional.
This article will dive deep into collocations for the word “INDICATE” and its related noun “INDICATION”. By the end, you’ll be able to use these words accurately and naturally, avoiding common pitfalls and impressing native speakers.
Common Collocations with INDICATE as a Verb
“Indicate” (verb) primarily means to show, point out, or suggest something. It’s often used in formal or academic contexts when presenting data, findings, or signals.
Indicating Evidence or Data
When you want to show that something points to a conclusion or reveals information.
- Data indicates: The latest sales data indicates a decline in consumer spending.
- Research indicates: Research indicates that regular exercise improves mental health.
- Studies indicate: Studies indicate a strong correlation between sleep deprivation and stress.
- Figures indicate: The latest unemployment figures indicate a slight improvement in the job market.
- Evidence indicates: All the available evidence indicates that the suspect was not at the scene.
- Results indicate: The test results indicate the presence of a rare genetic mutation.
Indicating Preferences, Intentions, or Approval
When someone communicates their choice, desire, or agreement.
- Indicate a preference: Please indicate your preference for a vegetarian or meat option by Friday.
- Indicate a desire: She did not indicate a desire to participate in the upcoming project.
- Indicate an intention: He indicated an intention to resign from his position next month.
- Indicate approval/disapproval: The board members indicated their approval of the new budget proposal.
- Indicate willingness: The CEO indicated his willingness to negotiate the terms of the acquisition.
- Indicate support: Several countries have indicated their support for the peace initiative.
Clearly, Strongly, or Merely Indicating
Adverbs often describe how something is indicated.
- Clearly indicate: His silence clearly indicated his discomfort with the topic.
- Strongly indicate: The latest polls strongly indicate a shift in public opinion.
- Merely indicate: The survey results merely indicate a trend, not a definitive conclusion.
- Accurately indicate: We need a system that can accurately indicate the current stock levels.
- Vaguely indicate: She vaguely indicated her plans for the future without giving details.
Indicating Directions or Locations
Physical actions of pointing or showing.
- Indicate the way: The sign clearly indicates the way to the emergency exit.
- Indicate a position: On the map, an ‘X’ indicates our current position.
- Indicate with a gesture: He indicated with a gesture that it was time to leave.
- Indicate by pointing: The witness indicated the suspect by pointing to him in the lineup.
Essential Collocations using INDICATION as a Noun
“Indication” (noun) refers to a sign or piece of information that indicates something. It’s often used when talking about signals, symptoms, or evidence.
Having or Giving an Indication
When something provides a sign or signal.
- Give an indication: The fluctuating stock prices give an indication of market instability.
- Provide an indication: These preliminary results provide an indication of the project’s potential success.
- Offer an indication: Her early enthusiasm offered an indication of her dedication.
- Show an indication: There’s no indication of a possible merger at this time.
- Serve as an indication: The rising temperature could serve as an indication of a brewing storm.
- Look for an indication: We are looking for an indication of consumer interest before launching the product.
Types of Indications
Describing the nature or clarity of a sign.
- Clear indication: His smile was a clear indication that he was pleased with the news.
- Strong indication: There’s a strong indication that interest rates will rise soon.
- Early indication: We’ve had some early indications of positive outcomes from the trial.
- Initial indication: The initial indication was that the system failure was minor.
- Good/bad indication: Falling sales are a bad indication for the company’s financial health.
- Positive/negative indication: The doctor looked for any positive indication of recovery.
- Subtle indication: There was only a subtle indication of nervousness in her voice.
Indication of What?
Connecting the indication to what it signifies.
- Indication of a problem: The flashing light is an indication of a problem with the engine.
- Indication of success: High attendance at the workshop is a good indication of its success.
- Indication of change: The new policy is an indication of a significant change in company strategy.
- Indication of interest: We need to see some indication of interest from investors.
- Indication of support: The public demonstration was a clear indication of popular support for the reforms.
The Master Summary Table: Essential Indicate Collocations
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| data indicates | Verb Phrase | Information shows or suggests |
| clearly indicate | Adverb + Verb | Show or reveal in an unambiguous way |
| indicate a preference | Verb + Noun | Express a choice or liking |
| indicate an intention | Verb + Noun | Express a plan or aim |
| give an indication | Verb + Noun | Provide a sign or signal |
| strong indication | Adjective + Noun | A clear and powerful sign |
| clear indication | Adjective + Noun | An obvious sign or signal |
| indication of a problem | Noun Phrase | A sign that something is wrong |
| no indication | Quantifier + Noun | Absence of any sign or signal |
| serve as an indication | Verb Phrase | Function as a sign or evidence |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
Avoid these common learner errors to sound more like a native speaker!
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| The numbers show strongly a problem. | The numbers strongly indicate a problem. |
| She made an indication of her agreement. | She gave an indication of her agreement. / She indicated her agreement. |
| We need to search for indication of progress. | We need to look for an indication of progress. |
| The map shows the way. | The map indicates the way. (More formal/precise) |
| There is a big indication of risk. | There is a strong indication of risk. |
| He indicated about his future plans. | He indicated his future plans. / He indicated an intention to discuss his future plans. |
Subject: Project Update – Initial Findings
Hi Team,
I wanted to share some initial observations from the Q3 market analysis. The preliminary data indicates a notable shift in consumer preferences towards eco-friendly products. This trend could indicate a desire for more sustainable options across the board. We also found that early feedback from our pilot program gives a clear indication of strong user engagement. There was no indication of a problem with the software’s usability, which is excellent news. Overall, these findings strongly indicate a positive direction for our upcoming product launch. I will share a full report next week.
Best regards,
Sarah
Frequently Asked Questions about Indicate Collocations
What’s the difference between “indicate” and “show”?
“Indicate” is often more formal and precise than “show.” While “show” can mean to reveal or display generally, “indicate” specifically implies pointing towards something, suggesting a conclusion, or serving as a sign or symptom. For example, “The graph shows sales figures” (general display), but “The graph indicates a downward trend” (points to a specific conclusion).
Can “indicate” be followed by an infinitive?
Yes, but typically when indicating an intention or willingness. For example: “He indicated his intention to leave” or “They indicated their willingness to cooperate.” It’s less common to say “He indicated to leave” directly. Often, a noun phrase like “an intention” or “a willingness” is used between “indicated” and the infinitive.
Are there any common prepositions used with “indicate”?
When “indicate” is a verb, it usually takes a direct object: “indicate a problem,” “indicate a direction.” When referring to the means of indication, you might use “by” or “with”: “indicate by gesture,” “indicate with an arrow.” As a noun, “indication” is frequently followed by “of” to specify what is being indicated: “indication of a problem,” “indication of support.”
How does “indicate” differ from “suggest”?
Both “indicate” and “suggest” can mean to imply or point to something. However, “indicate” often implies a stronger, more direct sign or piece of evidence, especially in formal contexts like data analysis or medical diagnoses. “Suggest” can be softer, implying a possibility or a hint, without necessarily providing strong evidence. “The fever indicates an infection” (stronger evidence), vs. “The symptoms suggest a cold” (a possibility).
Is “indicate” used in US English differently from UK English?
The core usage of “indicate” is largely consistent between US and UK English. Both dialects use it formally to mean ‘show,’ ‘point out,’ or ‘suggest.’ You might find slight preferences for certain collocations in specific contexts (e.g., scientific reports vs. daily conversation), but the verb and noun forms are universally understood and used similarly for conveying evidence, signs, or intentions across both major dialects.
I never thought about 'indicate' having specific partners. This is a new way of thinking about vocabulary for me, focusing on chunks rather than single words. Very cool approach!
I'm curious about the nuances. Does 'indicate' always imply a certain level of certainty, or can it be more tentative, like 'suggest'?
Another insightful question, Kenji! While 'indicate' generally implies a stronger, more evidence-based conclusion than 'suggest,' the level of certainty can be modulated by adverbs. For instance, 'Data *strongly indicates*' vs. 'Data *tentatively indicates*.' However, if you want to express mere possibility without strong evidence, 'suggest' is often the better choice. It's all about precision!
As a non-native English teacher myself, articles like these are invaluable. It's a constant learning curve for all of us, and Translateen consistently provides top-notch content. Thank you!
Thank you for the detailed examples! I'm trying to improve my business English, and this is perfect for reports and presentations. Especially 'figures indicate'.
This really helps with my academic writing. I always want to sound more professional. 'Evidence indicates' is a good one to remember and use frequently.
That's fantastic, Nia! 'Evidence indicates' is indeed a cornerstone of academic writing, conveying precision and authority. We're delighted to know this article supports your goal of professional writing. Keep practicing these phrases!
I loved how you explained the formal context. I often use 'say' or 'tell' when 'indicate' would be better. Time to practice!
So 'indication' is the noun. What are some common collocations for 'indication'? Like, 'strong indication'?
You're spot on, Olga! 'Strong indication' is a perfect example. Other common collocations include 'clear indication,' 'first indication,' 'any indication,' 'no indication,' and 'a good indication.' For example, 'There's a strong indication of economic growth.' You've got this!
Brilliant article! I'm a teacher and often look for ways to help my students sound more natural. This will be very useful. The distinction with 'figures indicate' is great.
The difference between single words and collocations is huge. This article explained it perfectly. Can you give an example of 'preferences indicate'?
Absolutely, Sophie! For 'preferences indicate,' imagine a survey: 'The survey results indicate a strong preference for remote work among employees.' Or, 'Her consistent choices indicate a clear preference for minimalist design.' It's about showing what choices reveal. Keep up the great work!
Are there any common mistakes non-native speakers make when trying to use 'indicate' or its noun 'indication'?
Excellent question, Kwame! A common pitfall is using 'indicate' with a person as the subject in the sense of 'telling' (e.g., 'He indicated me to sit down' instead of 'He signaled me'). Also, misusing 'indication' with prepositions (e.g., 'indication of' is correct, not 'indication for'). Always remember 'indicate' for objective findings, not personal directions or simple 'showing' without underlying data.