Indicates

Indicates is the third-person singular present tense of the verb indicate. The core meaning is to point to, signal, or show something, or to be a sign or indicator of something. In general use, to indicate is to make clear or to suggest a fact, condition, or outcome by presenting evidence, signs, or reasoning. The related noun indication refers to a sign or piece of information that points toward a conclusion. The word derives from Latin indicare "to point out."

Usage and nuance: Indicate is transitive and takes a direct object that designates the information or phenomenon being pointed to. In scientific and technical writing, indicate is common when describing evidence or results rather than asserting a conclusion decisively. It is distinct from imply, which conveys a speaker's or writer's inferred intent, and from signify, which denotes meaning by convention. Example: The data indicate a significant trend.

Grammar and style: Indicates agrees with a singular subject (The test indicates...); plural subjects use indicate (The tests indicate...). Tense forms include indicated (past) and indicating (present participle). In formal writing, prefer indicate over show for subtlety or when reporting findings without overstating them. In charts and tables, indicators may indicate status or thresholds.

In everyday language, indicators, signs, and signals are used to describe observable phenomena, such as weather indicators that show an approaching storm, or traffic signals that indicate when to stop. In computing and data analysis, indicators flag conditions, statuses, or anomalies, guiding interpretation and decision-making.