STUDY

All readers come across words they don't know. Your first thought might be to use a translator or a dictionary. However, that might not be the best first step.

Translators can easily give you a word in your first language, but they don't always give you the correct one. They don't understand its context (the situation in which the word is used). And, of course, you need to have your phone or computer.

Dictionaries, on the other hand, help you to understand words in context, but they can be slow. It might also be difficult to know which definition is correct. And you might not always have a dictionary close by.

A better first step is to use context clues. Look at other words in the sentence, paragraph, and article to make a good guess about the definition of an unknown word. This helps you to read faster and remember more. And if context clues are not enough, then you can use a dictionary or translator.

Here's how to use context clues. When you find an unknown word, stop and ask yourself these questions:

1. What is the general topic? What is the article about? What is the paragraph about? What is the sentence about?
2. What part of speech is the word? Is it a verb, noun, adjective, adverb, or something else?
3. Do you recognize any parts of the word? Is there a prefix, the root, or the suffix?
4. What do words around the unknown word mean? What is the connection?
5. If guessing doesn't work, then use a dictionary. Look for the correct part of speech. If there is more than one meaning, choose the meaning that you think explains the sentence best.
6. Check your understanding by continuing to read. Does it make sense? If not, go back and try again.