How to Use “Indicate” Correctly: Master Indicate, Indication & Indicative with Academic Examples

How to Use “Indicate” Correctly: Master Indicate, Indication & Indicative with Academic Examples

Improving your vocabulary is important, but improving your academic vocabulary is a game-changer for IELTS and university essays.

Today, let’s master one of the most useful academic verbs: INDICATE. It means to point out, show, or be a sign of something. It’s a perfect alternative to “show” or “say” in formal writing.

It has three powerful forms: indicate (verb), indication (noun), indicative (adjective).

1. INDICATE (Verb) – To Point Out or Show

Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To point out, show, or be a sign of something. To signal that something is true.
Grammar Patterns:

• indicate that + clause (MOST COMMON)
• indicate + noun

Transcript Example: “The information indicates that there was a need to change the process.”
Unique New Examples:

• Recent sales data indicates that customers prefer eco-friendly packaging over plastic.
• The survey indicates that 78% of students feel more confident after taking spoken English classes.
• Dark clouds indicate that heavy rainfall is expected this evening in Rangpur.

Academic Upgrade Tip:

• Weak: “The graph shows that prices went up.”
• Strong: “The graph indicates that prices increased significantly in the last quarter.”

You can also use it for what someone said:

• The manager indicated that the problem had been solved and the system was back online.
• She indicated her interest in the scholarship by submitting her application early. (pointed out / showed)

2. INDICATION (Noun) – A Sign or Evidence

Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A sign, signal, or piece of evidence that shows that something exists or will happen.
Grammar Patterns:

• an/the indication from + source
• every indication that + clause (Strong prediction!)
• an indication of + noun

Transcript Example: “The indication from the doctor was that it was quite serious.”
Unique New Examples:

• The rising temperature is a clear indication of climate change and global warming.
• There is every indication that the project will be completed before the deadline — the team is working very efficiently.
• A smile is usually an indication of happiness, but sometimes it can hide stress.

IELTS Example:

• There is no indication that online learning will replace traditional classrooms completely.

3. INDICATIVE (Adjective) – Serving as a Sign

Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Serving as a sign or evidence of something; suggesting or showing something.
Grammar Pattern: This is KEY: Always use indicative OF + noun/idea. Never use “indicative that” alone.

Structure: Something is indicative of something else

Transcript Example: “The poor quality was indicative of their lack of ability.”
Unique New Examples:

• Low test scores are often indicative of a lack of practice, not a lack of talent.
• His confident presentation style was indicative of how well he had prepared for the interview.
• The high number of empty shops in the city center is indicative of the current economic slowdown.

Quick Comparison:

Weak / Spoken	Strong / Academic with INDICATIVE
This shows he is lazy.	This is indicative of his laziness.
His attitude shows how he feels.	His attitude is indicative of how he feels.

Master Comparison Table

Word	Form	Meaning	Key Collocation
Indicate	Verb	To point out / show	indicates that / indicates a problem
Indication	Noun	A sign / evidence	an indication of, every indication that
Indicative	Adjective	Serving as a sign	indicative of (always OF!)

Final Practice: Fill in the Blanks

1. The latest research ____ that sleep improves memory. (indicate)
2. There is every ____ that inflation will decrease next year. (indication)
3. His messy handwriting is ____ of his carelessness. (indicative)

Write your answers in the comments on Advanced English Lab — I’ll correct them personally!