Context Clues

Seeing people yelling at a concert is usually considered normal behaviour by concert goers. However, yelling and singing in a music store might be considered odd. The yelling and singing is taking place in two different situations. In other words, the context for the behaviour is different.

What are context clues?

The context of a social situation, like a concert or music store, depends on the people, the place, the time, the traditions, and other factors. These factors are clues. To succeed socially you need to be able to pay attention to these clues and respond appropriately. Some people call this getting the “Big Picture.”

To successfully understand what you read, you need to understand the context of what you are reading. There are two types of context clues to consider when reading. The first group deals with the writer. Some examples of these factors include: the writer’s personality, the writer’s style, the writer’s social standing, and the writer’s purpose. You can find this information by consulting with a dictionary, encyclopedia or other reference sources. These information guides you in interpreting the writer’s message.

The second group of context clues are found in the reading material. Context clues in the reading materials define, rephrase, explain, clarify, repeat, or support. Writers may define new words or ideas by giving definitions, explaining, clarifying, supporting by giving examples, or repeating important ideas to emphasize the main idea.

Where do I find context clues?

Look for context clues between commas, between brackets, in definitions, in examples, in footnotes marked by asterisks (*) or numbers (12), by comparisons beginning with “like” or “as.”