Context Clue:
A word or phrase in the same sentence or a nearby sentence that can help the reader understand the meaning of an unfamiliar word.
I learned the technique of using context clues when I came across words I didn’t understand while reading. Instead of stopping to look in a dictionary, I tried to use the hints in the same sentence.
Example:
when I first read the word “reluctant” in the sentence “She was reluctant to answer the question, unwilling to raise her hand in class,” I didn’t know what “reluctant” meant. But the words “unwilling to raise her hand” helped me figure out that “reluctant” means not wanting to do something.
By practicing this, I realized that nearby words or phrases can guide me to the meaning of an unfamiliar word.