Implication is when a writer suggests or hints at something without stating it directly. In AP English, students learn that implication helps convey deeper meaning and allows readers to read between the lines.
Writers use implication to make their messages more subtle or to encourage readers to think critically. Recognising what is implied — not just what is stated — helps students analyse tone, character motivation, and theme in a more sophisticated way.
Example of implication in an AP English text
In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gatsby’s obsession with the green light implies more than just a desire for Daisy.
The light implies Gatsby’s longing for the American Dream and an ideal future he can never truly reach. Fitzgerald doesn’t say this directly, but the implication adds emotional depth and supports one of the novel’s key themes.
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