MEPX
Chapter 1 of 10All chapters
  1. 1Why context works
  2. 2The four clue types
  3. 3Word parts
  4. 4Shades of meaning
  5. 5Building vocabulary
  6. 6Vocabulary in exams
  7. 7Figurative use
  8. 8Academic and formal words
  9. 9Latin and Greek roots
  10. 10Keeping it

Chapter 1 of 10

Why context works

Sentences constrain meaning.

Narrowing down

A sentence limits what an unknown word can mean: its part of speech, whether it is positive or negative, and roughly what kind of thing it describes. That is often enough to keep reading.

  • You rarely need a precise definition to follow an argument.
  • Repeated encounters refine the meaning far better than one lookup.

The limit

Context gives approximations. It can mislead, particularly with technical or ironic use, so a guess should be held loosely and checked when it matters.