Guide 193 / 200 5 swaps Formal register
Professional words for “suggest”
Five verbs that vary the confidence of a suggestion.
i · When it mattersTwo lines, no filler
"Suggest" is soft. "Propose" is firmer; "recommend" is explicitly endorsed; "imply" is indirect; "intimate" is formal and hinting; "hint at" is informal.
ii · The swaps5 ways
- 01Propose neutral
firmer, planful suggestion
Propose a 30-day freeze on non-critical work.
- 02Recommend neutral
explicitly endorsed
Recommend the senior candidate.
- 03Imply neutral
indirect signal
The memo implies a change in direction.
- 04Intimate formal
subtle, formal hint
The CFO intimated that budgets would tighten.
- 05Hint at neutral
informal indirect signal
The release notes hint at the upcoming pricing change.