How Do You Spell Indicate?

Indicate is spelled I-N-D-I-C-A-T-E, and it’s used when something points out, shows, or signals an idea.

You’ve seen the word in essays, lab reports, directions, and teacher comments. You type it, pause, and think, “Is there an ‘a’ after the ‘c’?” You’re not alone—this one trips people because it looks like several other words at a glance.

This page gives you the correct spelling, a clean way to say it, and a few quick checks you can run so you don’t second-guess yourself in the middle of a sentence.

If you typed how do you spell indicate? into search, you’re in the right place. You’ll leave with the spelling plus a couple of habits that stop repeat mistakes.

The correct spelling is indicate. Letter by letter, that’s I-N-D-I-C-A-T-E.

If you like syllables, it breaks into three beats: in-di-cate. The stress lands on the first part: IN-di-cate.

Quick Memory Hook

Try linking the middle to the sound you hear: di comes right after in, then you get cate at the end, like “cat” with an extra “e.” It’s a small mental cue, but it helps when you’re typing fast.

Another easy check: the word has one a, and it sits after the c: indicate.

Fast Checks That Catch Indicate Misspellings
Check	What To Check	Fix In One Move
Core spelling	Ends with “-cate”	Type “cate” at the end, not “-cait”
Single “a”	“a” comes after “c”	Write “ca” as a pair: “…dica…”
No double letters	One “d,” one “c,” one “t”	Delete extra letters, then retype slowly
Sound match	“IN-di-kate”	Say it once, then type the three parts
Look-alike alert	Not “indict”	If you mean “show,” keep “-icate”
Spellcheck trap	Autocorrect guesses “indicator”	Backspace to “indicate” if you need the verb
Grammar fit	Verb needs a subject	Add who/what indicates: “Results indicate…”
Meaning fit	Signals, points out, shows	If you mean “suggest,” “show,” or “point,” use indicate

Spelling Of Indicate For School And Work

In academic writing, indicate often appears in reporting verbs: results indicate, data indicate, figures indicate.

In everyday writing, it shows up in directions: “The sign indicates the exit.”

Pronunciation That Matches The Spelling

People misspell words when the sound and the letters don’t line up cleanly. With indicate, the “-cate” ending can tempt you toward “-cait” or “-kate,” and the middle can tempt you toward “-dic-” twice.

Say it like “IN-di-kate.” Then type it in three chunks: in + di + cate. Chunking is boring, but it’s dependable.

Common Misspellings And Why They Happen

Most mistakes come from swapping letters that sound close or from borrowing patterns from other words. A quick glance can also trick your eyes into accepting a near-match.

indecate — the “i” turns into “e” because your brain reaches for “indecision.”
indicatee — an extra “e” sneaks in when you linger on the final sound.
indicat — the last “e” drops when you type fast or write by hand.
indacate — the second “i” disappears because it’s unstressed in speech.
indictate — it blends with “dictate” and “indict,” which are different words.

Indicate Vs Indict Vs Dictate

These three can look like cousins, but they live in different neighborhoods. Indicate is about showing or signaling. Indict is a legal word tied to being formally accused. Dictate is about speaking so someone writes, or about giving orders.

If your sentence could swap in “show” and still make sense, you want indicate. If it’s about court or charges, it’s indict. If it’s about giving instructions word-for-word, it’s dictate.

When you want a reliable definition and standard spelling, check a trusted dictionary entry like the Merriam-Webster indicate definition or the Cambridge Dictionary indicate entry.

Use Indicate In A Sentence Without Sounding Stiff

Some writers avoid indicate because it can feel formal. You can keep it natural by pairing it with plain nouns and clear subjects.

Start by choosing what is doing the indicating. Then choose what it points to. That’s it.

Sample Sentences You Can Copy And Adjust

These numbers indicate a steady rise in attendance.
The arrow indicates where the package should be opened.
Her tone indicates she’s not finished speaking.
The rubric comments indicate which parts need revision.
The lights on the router indicate the connection status.

Easy Alternatives When You Want A Lighter Tone

If indicate feels too formal in casual writing, try a simpler verb. Pick the one that matches your meaning.

show — direct and plain: “The chart shows a drop.”
point to — a bit conversational: “The clues point to a leak.”
signal — good for warnings: “The beeping signals low battery.”
suggest — softer claim: “The pattern suggests a trend.”
mark — physical labels: “The line marks the limit.”

When Autocorrect Gets Weird In Essays While Typing Indicate

Sometimes the spelling isn’t the problem—autocorrect on your device is. Autocorrect may swap indicate for “indicator,” “indicated,” or “indict.” That can slip past you because the sentence still looks “word-shaped.”

Run one quick scan: do you need the verb form right now? If your subject is acting in the present, “results indicate” fits. If you’re describing the past, “results indicated” fits.

Pick The Right Form By Listening For Time

When you’re writing fast, your brain can grab the right letters and still choose the wrong ending. A quick trick is to listen for time words in your sentence.

If you’re talking about something true right now, present tense is your friend: “The signs indicate…”. If you’re reporting something finished, past tense fits better: “The signs indicated…”.

Fast Fixes For Autocorrect Mix-Ups

Autocorrect likes to “help” by swapping one real word for another. That’s sneaky, because the new word can still be spelled correctly while your sentence turns off-track.

If you see indicator, ask if you mean a thing or a verb. A light can be an indicator. A light can’t indicator a change.
If you see indict, check meaning first. If the line is about evidence showing something, indict is the wrong lane.
If you see indicated in a present-tense paragraph, switch back to indicate and re-read the sentence once.
If you see indicates after a plural subject like results, swap it to indicate.

One Clean Pattern That Fits Many Sentences

If you’re stuck, use this simple pattern: [evidence] indicate[s] [idea]. It keeps the verb doing the job it’s meant to do, and it pushes you toward a clear subject.

Try it with your own topic: “The survey results indicate a shift in study habits.” “The dashboard icon indicates a warning.” Once you get the pattern, the spelling starts to feel automatic.

Indicate, Indicates, Indicated, Indicating

Once you’ve got the spelling, the next snag is the ending. English verbs change shape based on tense and subject. The good news: the base spelling stays the same, then you add a standard ending.

Verb Forms Built From Indicate
Form	Spelling	Best Fit In A Sentence
Base form	indicate	Use with plural subjects or after “to”: “They indicate…”
Third-person singular	indicates	Use with he/she/it: “The label indicates…”
Past tense	indicated	Use for finished actions: “The data indicated…”
-ing form	indicating	Use for ongoing action: “The icon is indicating…”
Noun (thing)	indication	Use for evidence: “There’s an indication of…”
Noun (device)	indicator	Use for a signal or tool: “A battery indicator…”
Adjective	indicative	Use for “showing”: “This is indicative of…”

Two Tiny Grammar Moves That Prevent Errors

First, match the verb to the subject. “Results indicate” is plural. “The result indicates” is singular. One letter changes the whole line.

Second, watch your tense consistency. If you start a paragraph in past tense, stick with it unless you have a clear reason to shift.

Indicate In Reports And Research Writing

In research writing, indicate is often used to describe what evidence shows without making a loud claim. That’s useful when you’re reporting data and leaving room for interpretation.

Try keeping the subject concrete: data, chart, survey, interview notes, measurements, findings. It reads cleaner than vague subjects like “this” or “it.”

Proofread Steps For Indicate Before You Submit

When you’re tired, your eyes start to skim, and that’s when a near-miss slips through. A simple routine can catch most spelling problems in under a minute.

One-Minute Check

Find the word in your draft using your browser search.
Check the middle: indicate has “ca,” not “ce” or “ci.”
Check the ending: it finishes with “-ate,” plus a final “e.”
Read the whole sentence once to confirm the verb form fits the subject.

Quick Swap Test

If you’re still unsure, swap indicate with “show.” If the sentence still works, the verb is doing the job you think it is. Then put indicate back in and keep the spelling you just checked.

Common Places Writers Use Indicate

Seeing the word in familiar patterns can make the spelling feel less slippery. Here are spots where it shows up a lot.

Lab reports: “The results indicate…”
Graphs: “The line indicates…”
Directions: “This sign indicates…”
Feedback: “Your notes indicate…”
Forms: “Tick the box to indicate…”

Spelling Practice That Sticks

If you want the spelling to stay in your fingers, not just your eyes, do a short drill. Write indicate five times, then type it five times, then use it in two sentences. That’s fifteen seconds, and you’re done.

When you practice, pause at the “ca.” That’s the spot most people scramble. After a few rounds, your hands stop hesitating.

Mini Dictation Trick

Say the word out loud, then spell it out loud: I-N-D-I-C-A-T-E. Next, type it once without looking at your notes. If you miss it, correct it right away and repeat one more time.

Spot The Trouble Letters In Handwriting

When you write by hand, the middle of indicate can blur into a quick scribble. That’s when “indi” turns into “inde” or “inda.” Slow down for one beat at the “ca.”

A small trick is to box the letters you tend to swap. Write indicate with the “ca” circled on scrap paper, then write your final line normally.

Write the last “e,” even if you don’t hear it.
Keep the second “i” after “d.”
Keep “t” before the last “e.”

If you’re typing, pause after “indi” and finish with “cate” in one go. That rhythm keeps the letters in order when you’re rushing on a test.

If you landed here asking how do you spell indicate?, you now have the spelling, the chunking method, and a quick proofread routine. Use the verb with a clear subject, and it will read smooth in essays, emails, and reports.