Context Clues A good way to make sense of an unfamiliar word is to look at the context: the other words in the sentence and other sentences in the paragraph that might give clues to the meaning of the word.

like for instance this such as these for example other includes Sometimes a sentence will provide an example that will help you understand the meaning of the word. Examples are often signaled by words or phrases such as: like for instance this such as these for example other includes especially

To get rid of that sore throat, try an old-fashioned remedy such as gargling with saltwater or sipping peppermint tea. Identify the unfamiliar word. (I’m not sure what remedy means.) Read to see if there is a word that signals that an example may follow. (I see the phrase “such as” . Those words could lead to an example.) Find the example or examples (The phrases gargling with saltwater and sipping peppermint tea follow the phrase, “such as”. These are examples of remedies.) Ask yourself how the example or examples relate to the unfamiliar word. (Both examples are things you can do to make you feel better.) Use this information to figure out what the word means. (Since both examples are things that can make you feel better, remedy must mean “something that makes you feel better.”) Look up the word and jot the word and definition down in your personal word list. Remedy: something that relieves pain or cures disease.

Comparison or Contrast Sometimes a sentence will provide a comparison or a contrast that will help you understand the meaning of the word. Certain words or phrases signal comparison or contrast. Comparison Signals Contrast Signals like similar to but although as also unlike however related resembling rather than on the other hand

The set for the play looked flimsy as a house of cards, but it was as sturdy as the brick walls of the theater. Identify the unfamiliar word. (I’m not sure what the word flimsy means.) Read to see if there is a word or phrase that signals that a comparison or a contrast may follow. (I see the words as and but. as-comparison ; but-contrast) Identify the comparison or contrast. (The 1st part of the sentence compares the flimsy set with house of cards while the second part of the sentence contrasts the set with a sturdy wall.) Use this information to figure out what the unfamiliar word means. (The comparison is with something that is weak and the contrast is with something strong and sturdy, so I think that flimsy mean “weak, not sturdy”). Find word in the dictionary and record it in your personal word list. Flimsy: light, thin; lacking solidity or strength

Restatement Sometimes a writer will restate the meaning of a difficult word within a sentence, defining it for you. Restatement or definitions are often signaled by words or phrases such as: Or Which is That is Also called Also known as In other words

Although I have a bike, I prefer to be a pedestrian Although I have a bike, I prefer to be a pedestrian. In other words, I’d rather walk. Identify the unfamiliar word. (I’m not sure what “pedestrian” means.) Read to see if there is a word that signals that a restatement may follow.(I see the phrase “in other words”. What follows may be a restatement or definition.) Find the restated information. (The phrase “in other words” is followed by “I’d rather walk”.) Use this information to figure out what the word means. (Because the second sentence says that” I’d rather walk” is another way of saying “I prefer to be a pedestrian”, I think that pedestrian must mean “someone who walks”.) Add to your word list. pedestrian: a person traveling on foot; a walker