Chapter 1: Determining the Meaning

of an Unfamiliar Word
through Context

Context Clues
Context clues consist of words in a sentence
or paragraph that enable readers to reason
out the meaning of unfamiliar words. (Context
is whatever surrounds something else. Words appear in the
context of a sentence.)

Ask yourself, What would this word have to

mean in order to make sense in this
sentence?
2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education

Chapter 1: Determining the Meaning of an Unfamiliar Word

Five Types of Context Clues

Definition or synonym clues
Contrast clues
Example clues
General sense of the sentence
Clue from another sentence
Each type of clue has certain signals.
2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education

Chapter 1: Determining the Meaning of an Unfamiliar Word

Definition or Synonym Clue

The author defines the word or gives a synonym.
Signals:
--phrases such as the term, is defined as, means, is
known as, etc.
--a definition following a comma, colon, or dash, or
enclosed in parentheses, brackets or dashes
--a term or definition in special print
--synonyms introduced by or, in other words, that is,
is also known as, by this we mean, etc.
2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education

Chapter 1: Determining the Meaning of an Unfamiliar Word

Contrast Clues
The author includes a word or phrase that is the
opposite of the word whose meaning you are
trying to figure out. The meaning will be the
opposite of the opposite.
Signals:
--Words such as but, however, on the other hand,
nevertheless, yet, in contrast, and some . . .others
--Opposite words (e.g., men and women; Democrats
and Republicans; ancient and modern)
2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education

Chapter 1: Determining the Meaning of an Unfamiliar Word

Example Clues
Consist of one or more examples that are
used to illustrate the meaning of the
unfamiliar word. The example is not the
definition, but it is a clue to it.
Signals:
--Examples are typically introduced by for
example, to illustrate, for instance, and such
as
2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education

Chapter 1: Determining the Meaning of an Unfamiliar Word

General Sense of the Sentence

Call on your prior knowledge to help you
figure out the meaning of the unknown
word.
Signals:
--None, so remember to ask yourself, What
would this word have to mean in order to
make sense in this sentence?

2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education

Chapter 1: Determining the Meaning of an Unfamiliar Word

Clues from Another Sentence

There may be helpful clues or information
in a sentence that precedes or follows the
one that contains the unfamiliar word.
Signals:
-- None, so be sure to ask yourself, What
would this word have to mean in order to
make sense in this sentence?
2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education

Chapter 1: Determining the Meaning of an Unfamiliar Word

The Edge:
Pointers from the Coach
Some context clues can be misleading since
context clues do not always provide perfect clues
to an unfamiliar words meaning. When you are
using the context, you are making an educated
guess.
Context clues may not always be complete. Even
so, if you look a word up in the dictionary, the
context will help you determine which definition
you need--the one that makes sense in the
sentence.
2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education

Chapter 1: Determining the Meaning of an Unfamiliar Word

The Edge (continued)

Be sure you understand the definition or
synonym given in a sentence.
If context clues prove inadequate, you
should use other ways to determine the
meaning of the unfamiliar word or term.
Use word structure clues (word parts) to
confirm the educated guess you made from
context clues.
2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education

Chapter 1: Determining the Meaning of an Unfamiliar Word

10

The Edge (continued)

Learning a word in context helps you
remember its definition.
Pay attention to specialized or technical
terms because professors will ask you their
definitions on tests.

2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education

Chapter 1: Determining the Meaning of an Unfamiliar Word

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