Context Clues: Definition and Restatement

Find meanings that writers state directly or restate right next to a hard word.

The easiest context clue is one the writer gives on purpose. In a definition clue, the meaning is stated directly, often with signal words like 'is', 'means', 'refers to', or 'is called'. 'A delta is a fan-shaped area of land formed where a river deposits mud as it enters the sea. ' In a restatement clue, the writer says the same thing again in simpler words, often set off by commas, dashes, or parentheses, or introduced by 'or', 'that is', or 'in other words'.

'The fossil was found in sedimentary rock, rock formed from layers of sand and mud pressed together. ' 'Many birds migrate, or travel long distances with the seasons. ' Textbooks use these clues constantly because their authors expect new vocabulary. A reader who spots the punctuation and signal words will often find the definition just a few words away, without needing a glossary. The habit is: when you hit a hard word, read past it before you stop.

• 1Definition clues state the meaning directly.
• 2Restatement clues say it again in simpler words.
• 3Watch for commas, dashes, parentheses, and 'or', 'that is'.