How to work out an unfamiliar word from context clues
HESI A2 topic: General vocabulary
- A context clue is a nearby word that hints at meaning.
- Five clue types: definition, synonym, contrast, example, cause and effect.
- Signal words point the way: unlike signals contrast; because signals cause.
- No clue? Break the word into prefix, root and suffix.
- Predict a meaning, then pick the choice closest to the word.
Key facts
- Context clues are nearby words, in the same sentence or the next one, that hint at what an unfamiliar word means.
- Definition clues are signaled by phrases such as is defined as, means and refers to, or by punctuation such as parentheses.
- Contrast clues are signaled by words such as unlike, but, however and although; the unknown word means roughly the opposite of the clue.
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- Example clues are signaled by such as, for example and for instance.
- A cause-and-effect clue links the unfamiliar word to a cause or result you already understand, often with because.
- Concise means brief and free of extra detail; verbose means using more words than needed.
- Ambiguous means open to more than one meaning; coherent means logically ordered and easy to follow.
Quick check1 question · 2 more at the end
Unlike his verbose first draft, Malik's final report was short and to the point. Which word or phrase is closest in meaning to verbose?
Correct answer: B.
Verbose means containing more words than necessary, or wordy. The signal word unlike sets up a contrast clue: the final report was short, so the first draft must have been the opposite, too long and wordy. Its opposite is concise.
A Clearly organized is close to coherent; the contrast with short points to length, not organization.
B Correct: verbose means using more words than necessary.
C Spelling errors have nothing to do with the contrast to short and to the point.
D Speed of writing is not the opposite of short; the contrast clue points to length.
Full lesson
Each part starts with its main idea. Open a part when you want the details.
The short answer: A context clue is a word or phrase near an unfamiliar word that hints at its meaning. Look for a definition or restatement, a synonym, a contrast (unlike, but), an example (such as), or a cause and effect (because). Predict a meaning, then try each answer choice in the sentence and keep the one closest to the word's meaning.
1 What is a context clue?A context clue is a word or phrase near an unfamiliar word that hints at what it means. 1 min
A context clue is a word or phrase near an unfamiliar word that hints at what it means. The clue may sit in the same sentence or in the one next to it.
A one-sentence vocabulary item gives you only a few words of context, so every word matters. Read the whole sentence before you look at the choices, and ask what job the bold word is doing.
2 Which clue types should you look for?Five common clue types are worth learning first, and most of them come with signal words. 1 min
Five common clue types are worth learning first, and most of them come with signal words. Spot the signal, and you know where to look for the meaning.
| Clue type | Signal words | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Definition or restatement | is defined as, means, refers to; parentheses | The note was concise, which means brief and to the point. |
| Synonym | or, in other words, that is to say; commas, dashes | Her answer was coherent (logical and easy to follow). |
| Contrast (antonym) | unlike, but, however, although | Unlike his verbose first draft, the final memo was brief. |
| Example | such as, for example, for instance | Some changes are inevitable, such as growing older each year. |
| Cause and effect | because; a reason or a result | Because the sign was ambiguous, half the group went to the wrong room. |
In the contrast row, brief is the opposite of verbose, so verbose must mean wordy. In the cause-and-effect row, people got lost, so the sign must have been unclear.
3 What if the sentence gives no clue?Some sentences give almost no hint, so switch to word parts and what you already know. 1 min
Some sentences give almost no hint, so switch to word parts and what you already know. Break the word into a prefix, root and suffix and define each part (see roots, prefixes and suffixes).
Then use background knowledge. If a sentence says an old bridge began to deteriorate after years of rain, your own experience tells you old things exposed to weather get worse, not better.
4 How can you check each answer choice?A simple study habit is to try each answer choice in place of the bold word. 1 min
A simple study habit is to try each answer choice in place of the bold word. Work through it in four steps.
- Cover the choices. Read the sentence and predict a meaning in your own words.
- Find the clue. Name the clue type and the signal word, if there is one.
- Plug in each choice. Read the sentence with each choice in place of the bold word.
- Match the word, not just the sentence. Pick the choice closest to the word's meaning, not merely one that sounds possible.
Step 4 is where many wrong answers get caught. In "The doctor gave a concise explanation," the choice friendly fits the sentence, but brief matches the word.
5 Which general academic words are worth knowing?General academic words show up in every kind of reading, from textbooks to workplace memos. 1 min
General academic words show up in every kind of reading, from textbooks to workplace memos. Here are six, each with a look-alike that is easy to confuse with it.
| Word | Plain meaning | Common mix-up |
|---|---|---|
| Concise | Brief, free of extra detail | Not the same as vague |
| Verbose | Using more words than needed; wordy | Opposite of concise |
| Coherent | Logically ordered; easy to understand | Not the same as correct |
| Ambiguous | Open to more than one meaning | Ambivalent means having mixed feelings |
| Deteriorate | Become worse in quality or condition | Deter means discourage |
| Inevitable | Unable to be avoided | Stronger than likely |
Common mistakes
The traps students fall into most. Read these before you practice.
Watch out: A contrast clue gives the opposite of the word's meaning, not a synonym; unlike signals a contrast.
Watch out: Ambiguous means having more than one possible meaning, not having mixed feelings; that is ambivalent.
Watch out: Deteriorate means become worse, not deter or discourage.
Watch out: Inevitable means unable to be avoided, not likely or probable.
Watch out: An answer that fits the sentence is not always the closest meaning; check it against the word itself.
How to remember it
Remember the five clue types with "Detectives Search Carefully in Every Case": Definition, Synonym, Contrast, Example, Cause and effect. Run through all five when a word stumps you.
Self-check:
- Which signal word in "Unlike the calm patient, her visitor was agitated" points to a contrast?
- Name the clue type in "Because the instructions were ambiguous, nobody finished on time."
- When you try each answer choice in the sentence, why should you match the word and not just the sentence?
Show answers
- Unlike.
- Unlike is a contrast signal word.
- So agitated means the opposite of calm.
- Cause and effect.
- The signal word is because.
- The result (nobody finished on time) tells you the instructions were unclear.
- A choice can fit the sentence but miss the word.
- In "The doctor gave a concise explanation," friendly fits the sentence.
- But brief is the choice that matches the meaning of concise.