Tips on using context clues to define words.
USING CONTEXT CLUES – This is vital for reading comprehension to learn new words independently and this is how you use it.
The answer we least expect to hear from other people whenever we ask the meaning of a word is “use context clues” but this strategy is helpful. This is a strategy one can use to learn new words independently. They are not easy but they are helpful.
What are context clues? They are a word or phrase in a sentence or passage that gives hints and extra information about a certain word. This strategy is similar to defining words based on the other words around them and this can be a bit tricky. Sometimes, you would need two or more different types of this to finally come up with an understanding of the word.
8 types
- Synonyms – This is when you can understand the word by knowing the other words that has the same meaning which you already know.
- Antonyms – This is the contrast or the opposite and by knowing the opposite of a word, it would finally become clear to you. But, however, although, or other phrases that suggest a contradiction are the signs.
- Definition – This clue defines the unfamiliar word. Words such as is defined as, means, and refers to are used.
- Exemplification – This is understanding a word unknown through the examples given. Words like for example, for instance, to illustrate, like, and such as is a sign to introduce examples.
- Analogy – This shows the relationship between words which is a helpful strategy to understand the word including how it is used in a sentence.
- Appositive – This is the easiest and most helpful type as often times, the definition comes after the word for further explanation.
- General gist/sense – This is interference and finding the main point or part in order to reach understanding.
- Punctuation – The clues of punctuation helps in understanding words such as using quotation marks, dashes, parentheses or brackets, and italics.