Using Context Clues

Karen Silvestri, Instructional Specialist

The Learning Center at Robeson Community College

I don’t know that word!

What do you do when you come upon a word you don’t know?

SOME ANSWERS

•Skip the word•Quit reading•Come back to it if I have to•Look it up in the dictionary•Ask someone

Context Clues

Context clues can help you to figure out the meanings of unfamiliar words.

Phobias, such as fear of heights, water, or confined spaces, are difficult to eliminate.

From the sentence, you can tell that phobia means “fear of specific objects or situations.

The couple finally secured a table at the popular, crowded restaurant.

You can figure out that secured means “got or took ownership of” the table.

Four types of Context Clues

•Definition•Example•Contrast•Logic of Passage

Definition Clues

• Many times a writer defines a word immediately following its use. • The writer may directly define a word by

giving a brief definition or a synonym (a word that has the same meaning). • Some words and phrases as means, is,

refers to, and can be defined as are often used.

Example of Definition Clue

•Corona refers to the outermost part of the sun’s atmosphere.

•A soliloquy is a speech made by a character in a play that reveals his or her thoughts to the audience.

Other clues

Writers may use punctuation to signal a definition clue is coming.

Punctuation separates the meaning clue from the rest of the sentence.

CommasParenthesesDashes

Commas

Five-line rhyming poems, or limericks, are among the simplest forms of poetry.

Equity, general principles of fairness and justice, is used in law when existing laws do not apply or are inadequate.

Parentheses

Lithium (an alkali metal) is so soft it can be cut with a knife.

A leading cause of heart disease is a diet with too much cholesterol (a fatty substance made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.)

Dashes

Our country’s gross national product—the total market value of its national output of goods and services—is increasing steadily.

Ancient Egyptians wrote in hieroglyphics—pictures used to represent words.

Example Clues

Writers often include examples that help to explain or clarify a word.

Toxic materials, such as arsenic, asbestos, pesticides, and lead, can cause bodily damage.

This sentence gives four examples of toxic materials. From the examples given, which are all poisonous substances, you could conclude that toxic means “poisonous”.

Forest floors are frequently covered with fungi—molds, mushrooms, and mildews.

Fungi, then are types of molds, mushrooms, and mildews.

Legumes, such as peas and beans, produce pods.

Legumes, then, are vegetable plants that produce pods.

Many pharmaceuticals, including morphine and penicillin, are not readily available in some countries.

From the examples of morphine and penicillin, you know that pharmaceuticals are drugs.

Examples

1. The child was reticent in every respect; she would not speak, refused to answer questions, and avoided looking at anyone.

2. Involuntary reflexes, like breathing and beating of the heart, are easily measured.

3. The student had a difficult time distinguishing between homonyms—words such as see and sea, wore and war, and deer and dear.

Contrast Clues

•It is sometimes possible to determine the meaning of an unknown word from a word or phrase in the context that has an OPPOSITE meaning.

One of the dinner guests succumbed to the temptation to have a second piece of cake, but the others resisted.

You know that one guest succumbed while the others resisted. The word BUT suggests this. So you can INFER that succumb is the OPPOSITE of resist.

Most of the graduates were elated, though a few felt sad and depressed.

The opposite of “sad and depressed” is joyful, so you can INFER (guess) that elated means joyful.

The key word here is though.

The old man acted morosely, whereas his grandson was very lively.

The opposite of “lively” is quietly and sullenly, so you can INFER that morosely means not lively.

The key word here is whereas.

The gentleman was quite portly, but his wife was thin.

The opposite of “thin” is heavy or fat, so you can INFER that portly means not thin or fat.

The key word here is but.

Practice (key words are in italics) write what

you think each word means on a piece of paper. Then, look up the word in the dictionary to check if you guessed correctly. Write out the definition of the each word. Turn in your assignment in class.

1. Some city dwellers are affluent; others live in or near poverty.

2. I am certain that the hotel will hold our reservation; however, if you are dubious, call to make sure.

3. Although most experts concurred with the research findings, several strongly disagreed.

4. The speaker denounced certain legal changes while praising other reforms.

5. When the couple moved into their new home they revamped the kitchen and bathroom but did not change the rest of the rooms.

Logic of the Passage Clues

•Many times you can figure out the meaning of an unknown word by using logic and reasoning skills

Bob is quite versatile; he is a good student, a top athlete, an excellent car mechanic, and a gourmet cook.

You can see that Bob is successful at many different types of activities, and you could reason that versatile mans “capable of doing many things competently.”

When the customer tried to pay with Mexican pesos, the clerk explained that the store accepted only U.S. dollars.

Logic tells you that customers pay with money; pesos, then, are a type of Mexican currency.

We had to leave the car and walk up because the incline was too steep to drive.

Something that is too steep must be slanted or have a slope; incline means a slope.

Since Reginald was nervous, he brought his rabbit’s foot talisman with him to the exam.

A rabbit’s foot is often thought to be a good luck charm; talisman means a good luck charm.

Practice – write what you think each word means on a

piece of paper. Then, look up the word in the dictionary to check if you guessed correctly. Write out the definition of the each word. Turn in your assignment in class.

1. The foreign students quickly assimilated many aspects of American culture.

2. The legal aid clinic was subsidized by city and county funds.

3. The teenager was intimidated by the presence of a police officer walking the beat and decided not to spray paint the school wall.

4. If the plan did not work, the colonel had a contingency plan ready.

Assignments

• Turn in the two practice assignments included in this video to your instructor during class.