Vocabulary in Context

Start with the sentence around the word

Do not isolate the unfamiliar word immediately. Read the whole sentence and, if possible, the sentence before and after it.

Ask what kind of meaning would make the passage logical.

Use grammar as a clue

The position of a word often tells you its word class.

In 'The sudden decline surprised investors', decline behaves as a noun. In 'Sales declined rapidly', declined behaves as a verb.

Knowing the word class narrows the possible meanings.

Look for definition, example and contrast clues

Writers often explain unfamiliar ideas indirectly.

• definition: 'Nocturnal animals, which are active at night, ...'
• example: 'Arid regions, such as deserts, ...'
• contrast: 'Unlike the temporary fall last year, the current decline appears permanent.'
• cause/effect: 'The road was impassable, so no vehicles could continue.'

Use word parts

Prefixes, roots and suffixes can support an interpretation.

Unpredictable contains un- + predict + -able, which suggests 'not able to be predicted'.

Word parts are clues, not guarantees; always check the sentence.

Use collocation

Words that commonly occur together can help identify meaning.

If a text says 'pose a serious threat', the surrounding words indicate that threat is something negative or dangerous.

Decide whether you even need the word

Some unfamiliar words are not central to the task. If you understand the main point without them, keep reading.

Stop and investigate when the word is repeated, carries the main claim or blocks your understanding.

Sentence: 'The medicine produced only a transient improvement; within two hours, the symptoms had returned.'

Clues: only, within two hours, and symptoms had returned.

Reasonable inference: transient means temporary or short-lived.

The surrounding meaning is stronger evidence than a guess based on how the word looks.

1. Read beyond the unfamiliar word.
2. Identify the word class from its grammatical position.
3. Look for definitions, examples, contrast and cause-effect clues.
4. Break the word into useful prefixes, roots or suffixes if possible.
5. Check nearby collocations.
6. Form a tentative meaning in simple English.
7. Replace the unfamiliar word with your guess and reread the sentence.
8. Use a dictionary only when the word is important or the context remains unclear.

Mistake: Choosing a meaning from one familiar-looking part of the word.

Better: Combine morphology with the sentence and wider context.

Mistake: Looking up every unfamiliar word immediately.

Better: Decide first whether the word is important for the task.

Mistake: Treating the first guess as certain.

Better: Test the meaning against the rest of the passage.

Mistake: Ignoring grammar.

Better: Use the word's position and form to identify what kind of meaning is possible.

What does 'scarce' most likely mean here? 'Fresh water is scarce in the region, so households must carefully limit how much they use.'

• A. abundant
• B. difficult to find or limited
• C. polluted
• D. free

Answer: B. The need to limit use shows that fresh water is available only in small amounts.

• Use several context clues rather than one guess.
• Grammar can reveal the word class.
• Definitions, examples, contrasts and consequences can reveal meaning.
• Word parts and collocations are useful supporting clues.
• Treat inferred meaning as a hypothesis until it fits the wider context.
• Not every unfamiliar word needs to be looked up.