Use Nearby Words to Figure Out a New Word

Hey there, reader! I'm Quill, and I have a secret to share — you don't need a dictionary every time you hit a word you don't know. Here's the trick: the words AROUND a mystery word are like clues at a detective scene. They give you hints about what the unknown word means. We call these context clues. Let's try it. Read this sentence: "The parched plants drooped and wilted because they hadn't had water in two weeks." Maybe "parched" is new to you. But look around it! Plants drooping, no water for two weeks — those nearby words tell you "parched" means very dry. Here's how to be a context-clue detective: 1. Read the WHOLE sentence — don't stop at the mystery word. 2. Look for describing words, examples, or cause-and-effect clues nearby. 3. Make a guess, then check: does your meaning fit back into the sentence? Context clues come in a few flavors. Same-meaning clue: "The puppy was jubilant — happy and jumping with joy!" (the sentence tells you what the word means). Opposite clue: "Unlike her calm brother, Mia was frantic" (calm is the opposite, so frantic must mean not calm). Describing clue: "The parched plants drooped and wilted" (the description shows the meaning without defining it directly). If the sentence still doesn't give you enough to go on, re-read the paragraph around it — there is often a clue a sentence or two earlier. If you are still unsure, try a dictionary or ask a classmate. Even the best word detectives use backup tools!